THE  LIBRARY 

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Journal  of  Joseph  Valpey,  Jr. 


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From   the  entry   for   May    1,    1814. 


Journal  of  Joseph  Valpey,  Jr. 
of  Salem 

i 

November,  1813— April,  1815 

With  other  papers  relating-  to  his  experience  in 
Dartmoor  Prison. 


MICHIGAN  SOCIETY 

OF 
COLONIAL  WARS 

1922 


Three  hundred  copies  printed,  of  which  this  is  No. .. .1.5.1*).... 


PREPARED   FOR   PUBLICATION 
BY  THE 

BURTON  HISTORICAL  COLLECTION 
DETROIT  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


Introduction 

TO  ONE  whose  ancestry  goes  back  to  those  who  went 
"down  to  the  sea  in  ships,"  there  is  always  a  lure  and  a 
fascination  about  the  sea  and  the  old  seaport  towns,  especially 
if  the  town  be  in  old  New  England.  Consequently  those  were 
interesting  days  spent  last  summer  in  the  Essex  Institute  and 
Peabody  Museum,  Salem,  searching  through  old  ships'  logs, 
time-worn  newspapers,  contemporaneous  journals,  books  of 
shipping  news  and  nautical  history,  to  find  material  to  supple- 
ment and  form  a  background  for  this  diary  of  a  seafaring 
relative,  one  Joseph  Valpey.  The  manuscript  was  given  sev- 
eral years  ago  to  the  writer's  father,  Lewis  Nelson  Valpey,  by 
his  aunt,  Mrs.  Mehitable  Valpey  Atwill,  of  Arlington,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  after  his  death  was  purchased  by  Mr.  C.  M. 
Burton.  L.  N.  Valpey's  father,  Joseph  Hodges  Valpey,  once 
of  Lynn,  but  for  the  last  thirty  years  of  his  life  a  resident  of 
Detroit,  Michigan,  was  a  namesake  and  nephew  of  the  diarist. 

In  the  voluminous  diary  of  William  Bentley,  pastor  of  the 
East  Church,  Salem,  are  to  be  found  references  to  the  Valpey 
family,  with  frequent  allusions  to  their  seemingly  constant  anxiety 
for  fathers  and  sons  at  sea,  for  whom  prayer  was  freqeuently 
requested  of  the  church. 

On  June  24,  1792,  there  was  an  entry  in  the  register  of  the 
East  Church  of  the  baptism  of  Joseph  Valpey,  Jr.,  aged  three  days, 
son  of  Joseph  and  Mehitable  Murray  Valpey.  A  note  in  the  diary 
of  the  same  Pastor  Bentley,  who  apparently  recorded  the  minutest 
details  in  the  lives  of  his  parishioners,  mentions  the  fact  that  the 
father  was  at  sea  at  the  time  of  this  child's  birth.  Slight  wonder 
that  he,  too,  followed  the  seas. 

Joseph  Valpey,  Sr.,  is  mentioned  by  Bowdoin  B.  Crownin- 
shield  in  his  article,  An  account  of  the  private  armed  ship  "Amer- 


tea"  of  Salem,  published  in  Volume  37  of  the  Historical  Collections 
of  the  Essex  Institute.  The  entry  reads  as  follows: 

"'Nov.  24  at  7:30  A.  M.  saw  a  sail  bearing  S.  W.  by  S. 
steering  to  the  E.  S.  E.  Made  all  necessary  sail  in  chase. 

'At  9  A.  M.  brought  her  to  and  boarded  her:  she  proved 
to  be  the  British  ship  Hope  from  St.  Thomas  for  Glasgow,  45 
days  out,  Gilbert  demons  master:  Full  Cargo:  Sugar  and 
Rum.  He  informed  us  that  he  had  left  the  fleet  4  days  before, 
consisting  of  thirty-two  sail  of  merchantmen  under  the  con- 
voy of  the  Ring  Dove,  Sloop  of  war.'  This  was  the  sort  of 
dove-cote  in  which  such  a  hawk  as  the  America  produced  the 
wildest  terror.  'Put  on  board  Joseph  Valpey,  prize  master  and 
twelve  men:  took  several  sm?ll  articles  and  the  prisoners  from 
her  and  ordered  her  to  America.  Lat.  46°  35'.' 

The  'small  articles'  referred  to  usually  included  quadrant, 
spyglass,  and  samples  of  cargo  and  sometimes  small  arms  and 
specie,  but  never  the  personal  property  of  the  prisoners." 

Acknowledgment  is  gratefully  made  to  Miss  Jennie  Valpey 
and  Mr.  Fred  Valpey  of  Lynn  and  Mrs.  Annie  Manwell  of 
Arlington,  Massachusetts,  for  information  regarding  family 
history  and  the  loan  of  letters  written  by  Joseph  Valpey,  Jr., 
and  other  historical  data.  Two  of  the  letters  are  printed  here ; 
the  others  were  written  home  during  his  earlier  voyages  to 
Smyrna,  Malta,  and  other  eastern  Mediterranean  ports.  They 
are  all  addressed  to  his  parents  and  reveal  a  touching  family 
affection  and  the  longings  of  a  homesick  boy  for  home  and 
loved  ones.  In  one  letter  reference  is  made  to  the  ravages  of 
Napoleon  Bonaparte's  ships  on  the  Mediterranean,  and  to  the 
hazards  of  the  deep  in  those  troublous  times. 

Joseph  Valpey,  Sr.,  was  part  owner  of  the  privateer 
schooner  "Herald"  of  New  York,  commanded  by  Capt.  John 
Miller,  which  may  have  been  one  reason  that  his  son,  Joseph, 
shipped  on  that  particular  vessel  after  several  other  voyages 
on  various  merchant  ships.  It  appears  from  one  of  the  old 
letters  which  are  herewith  printed,  that  he  reached  his  decision 


to  board  a  privateer  only  after  considerable  hesitation  and 
mental  struggle,  but  having  once  made  up  his  mind,  he  was 
eager  to  be  off. 

The  story  of  his  sea  experiences  and  of  his  life  as  a  British 
prisoner  of  war  are  so  vividly  told  by  him  in  the  following 
pages,  that  more  need  not  be  said  by  way  of  preface.  The 
diary,  however,  leaves  the  r,eader  wondering  as  to  what  came 
next.  Old  family  records  tell  us  that  he  died  at  sea,  on  his 
way  home,  on  March  24,  1816,  and  was  buried  in  Havana, 
Cuba.  His  diary  came  home  to  his  sorrowing  family  in  his 
sea  chest  with  his  other  belongings.  With  all  that  it  tells  of 
his  adventures  and  trying  experiences  on  land  and  sea — experi- 
ences shared  by  many  another  homesick  lad  of  those  days — it 
is  no  wonder  that  the  worn  little  volume  was  treasured  by  his 
family  and  handed  down  for  coming  generations  to  read. 
Detroit,  April,  1922.  E.  G.  V. 


The  Travels  and  Sufferings  of  Joseph  Valpey 
Jun%  of  Salem 


IT  was  on  November  **•  2  1813  i  ship'd  on  Board  of  the  Letter 
of  Marque  Schooner  Monkey  of  Boston,  John  H  Glov[er] 
Master  Bound  to  Charleston  S  C  and  from  thence  ...  *  We 
lay  at  Boston  until  the  twenty  fifth  waiting  [for]  Freight  and  on 
the  twenty  sixth  we  dropped  down  to  th[e]  Castle  and  took  in 
our  Long  Boat  and  got  all  Ready  for  Sea  on  the  twenty  seventh 
we  weighed  our  anchor  and  proce[eded]  out  to  sea  with  a  pleas- 
ant Breeze  from  W  N  W  but  it  ch[anged?  We]  put  back 
for  Marblehead  where  we  Arived  about  four  [in]  the  Afternoon 
it  being  on  fry  day  we  cleared  up  the  d[eck.  T]hought  on 
ho  [me]  Saturday,  it  being  very  Cold  [and  the  Win]d  being  to 
[the  eas]tward  and  know[ing]  that  [we  couldn't  proceed]  to  sea 
we  asked  permission  from  our  Captain  [to  go  home]  to  which  he 
refused  to  do  replying  that  up  [on  a]  favourable  wind  we  should 
start  in  the  afternoon.  [Having  received]  his  answer  we  made 
ourselves  contented  that  night  and  [the]  next  morning  it  being 
pleasant  we  made  ourselves  [contente]d  until  after  dinner  when 
John  Williams  S  Abbot  [Wi]llis  and  myself  took  our  Bags  and 
Beding  up  on  [deck]  with  the  intention  to  leave  the  Monkey  our 
Captain  [per]ceiving  this  he  enquiring  what  we  was  going  to  do, 
we  Answered  him  that  we  was  going  to  leave  the  schooner  if  [we 
c]ould  not  have  the  Liberty  to  visit  home  then  he  gave  [con] sent 


*The  Journal  of  Joseph  Valpey,  Jr.,  came  to  the  Burton  Historical  Collection 
unbound,  a  compact  little  book,  which  might  easily  have  been  slipped  into  the  pocket 
of  a  greatcoat.  Several  of  its  leaves  were  quite  badly  torn,  as  will  be  seen  from  the 
frequent  breaks  in  the  narrative  on  this  and  following  pages.  The  substance  of  the 
Journal  was  printed  in  the  Boston  Herald  of  March  9,  1902.  This  article  has  been 
mounted  by  a  member  of  the  family,  in  a  booklet,  on  the  first  page  of  which,  the 
same  loving  hand  has  copied  the  first  page  of  the  Journal,  evidently  before  that  page 
was  so  badly  torn.  By  this  means,  several  missing  words  have  been  supplied.  To 
avoid  the  frequent  repetition  of  the  explanatory  word  "torn,"  omissions  have  been 
indicated  by  dots. 


that  all  that  did  belong  to  salem  might  go  [but  at  t]he  same  time 
he  wished  that  we  would  return  early  [next  mor]ning  to  which  we 
Consented]  and  then  there  being  eight  that  did  belong  to  salem 
we  sat  out  for  Salem  it  being  about  three  p.  m.  where  we  Arived 
Just  before  Dark,  and  early  the  next  morning  we  returned  back 
and  cleared  ship  for  getting  under  way  but  the  wind  hauling 
Round  to  the  eastward  we  let  all  stand  on  Tuesday  Morning 
there  being  a  pleasant  Breeze  from  the  Westward  we  weighed 
our  Anchor  and  proceeded  for  Cape  Ann  as  that  being  a  harbour 
that  we  could  loofk]  into  the  bay  we  came  to  anchor  about  noon 
where  We  lay  until  fryday  when  about  four  in  the  morning  the 
Breeze  springing  up  from  the  N  W  our  Captain    Went  on  shore 
upon  a  large  hill  that  stood  Near  the  Sea  side  and  seeing  that 
the  bay  was  clear  of  cruisers  he  returned  on  Board  and  gave 
the  Joyful  News  for  getting  under  way  we  weighed  our  Anchor 
and  proceeded  out  with  a  pleasant  Breeze  at  eight  we  sat  the 
Squarsail  and  top  gallant  sail  at  half  past  one  P  M  the  Man  at 
Masthead  discovered  a  sail  standing  in  the  bay  but  we  soon  per- 
ceived her  to  be  a  British  all  hands  was  quickly  called  for  to  take 
in  the  Squarsail  and  top  gallant  sail  as  the  wind  by  this  time  had 
hauled  round  to  the  N  E  and  began  for  to  snow  and  blowing 
very  heavy  and  in  taking  in  the  Squarsail  it  split  from  head  to 
clue  but  we  soon  had  our  little  ship  on  the  wind  to  the  southward 
&  eastward  And  our  enemy  in  clost  persuit  of  us  with  all  Canvas 
crowded  at  four  in  the  afternoon  the  Breeze  Freshning  we  took 
one  reef  in  the  Mainsail  at  half  past  five  we  Carry ed  away  our 
Main  Boom  which  was  the  occasion  of  Breaking  our  second  Mates 
Leg  and  Wounded  J  Williams  [an]d  myself  slightly  but  not  mind- 
ing our  Slighty  wounds  we  turned  too  and  hauled  in  the  Mainsail 
which  was  a  towing  alongside  at  six  our  fore  gaft  went  which 
obliedged  Us  for  to  lower  down  the  fore  sail  and  we  had  but 
Just  time  enough  for  to  stow  away  the  foresail  when  the  fore 
yard  went  into  three  peices  which  caused  us  for  to  furl  the  top- 
sail and  our  Jibbs  being  all  the  sail  that  we  could  set  put  our 
helm  alea  thinkifng]  that  we  could  not  Escape  our  enemy  but  at 
half  past  Seven  as  the  Lord  would  have  it  our  enemy  passed  us 
Within  gun  shot  with  all  sail  set  but  it  snowing  so  thick  and  it 
being  very  dark  they  did  not  perceifve]  Us,  the  next  Morning  it 
being  our  Watch  on  deck  after  taking  a  stiff  dram  we  proceeded 
for  to  clear  away  the  fore  yard  which  was  left  hanging  all  Night 
but  it  being  very  cold  and  snowing  it  was  som[e]  time  before 
we  cleared  the  wreck  at  eight  the  next  Morning  having  got  all 


[  3   ] 

snug  and  the  decks  cleared  up  we  Turned  too  for  to  fish  the 
Main  boom  and  fore  gaft  Which  we  compleated  in  three  days 
and  then  taking  Our  squarsail  boom  for  a  fore  yard  we  soon  had 
our  Little  ship  in  ample  order  again  but  not  for  Carrying  sail 
Nothing  worth  our  Notice  occurd  Until  the  twenty- fourth  Ins1 
when  at  day  light  the  Man  at  Mast  head  discovered  a  sail  on 
our  Lea  Bow  but  could  not  make  her  out  at  Nine  she  comi[n]g 
Up  with  us  we  perceived  her  to  be  an  armed  schooner  Standing 
for  us  we  then  tacked  ship  and  stood  from  her  and  the  Breeze 
freshning  and  she  coming  up  with  Us  very  fast  when  at  ^  past 
two  in  the  afternoon  we  had  the  pleasure  for  to  see  his  fore  gaft 
carryed  away  which  caused  him  for  to  give  up  the  Chase  &  Re- 
lieve us  from  the  hands  of  our  enemy  as  we  Supposed  him  to  be, 
Nothing  More  until  the  twenty  Ninth  when  to  our  great  Joy  we 
discovered  Land  it  being  about  three  in  the  afternoon  we  stood 
in  for  the  Light  house  until  six  then  seing  no  pilot  Coming  off 
we  shortned  sail  and  stood  off  and  on  Until  daylight  the  next 
Morning  when  we  Made  All  the  sail  that  our  crazy  ship  would 
carry  &  stood  in  for  the  Buoy's — it  being  now  on  the  Thirtyeth 
at  ten  in  the  Morning  we  received  A  pilot  on  board  and  at  one  in 
the  afternoon  we  came  to  anchor  in  the  stream  and  at  six  we 
hauled  in  along  side  of  the  wharf  and  safe  Moord  our  little 
barque  after  a  long  and  tegeous  passag[e]  The  next  Morning  we 
began  for  to  discharge  our  Cargo  which  consisted  of  Fruit  pota- 
toes hay  hardware  Glass  &c  with  which  we  Cleared  our  little 
Barque  of  the  next  day  when  the  Embargo  was  put  on  all  Ships 
and  vessels  then  laying  within  the  ports  of  the  United  States 
which  caused  us  for  to  lay  idle  until  we  could  receive  orders 
from  home  which  was  not  until  the  fifteenth  of  February  1814 
When  our  captain  received  orders  from  home  to  dismantle  our 
Schooner  and  discharge  all  Hands  in  striping  our  Masts  we  dis- 
covered that  both  of  them  was  Sprung  very  badly  on  Monday 
the  seventeenth  at  Nine  in  the  Morning  we  all  went  up  to  the  agents 
store  and  was  paid  off  at  the  rate  of  twenty  dollars  per  Month 
and  then  we  repaird  on  Board  and  took  Breakfast  and  at  eleaven 
Myself  with  six  of  My  Shipmates  went  up  to  the  Rendervous 
and  entered  on  Board  of  the  privateer  schooner  Herald  of  New 
York  John  Miller  Commander  Bound  on  a  cruise  of  four  Months* 
and  then  i  went  down  again  and  saw  John  Williams — S  Abbot 
and  B  Willis  Embark  on  Board  of  a  Small  packet  for  Wilminton 
N  C  and  From  thence  to  proceed  home — since  i  have  been  Im- 


*See  letter,  page  29. 


[4] 

form[e]d  that  on  there  arival  at  Wilmington  they  purchased  an 
old  horse  and  Cart  and  arived  safe  at  New  York  when  there 
Horse  died  and  then  they  Sold  there  cart  and  traveld  for  salem 
which  they  Compleated  in  fifty  days  on  the  Nineteenth  Not 
wishing  for  to  stay  on  shore  any  longer  and  eager  to  Get  to  sea 
again  and  try  My  luck  i  went  on  Board  And  Joined  the  ship's 
crew  on  Sunday  Morning  it  being  on  the  twenty  first  at  ten  in  the 
forenoon  we  weighed  our  Anchor  and  firing  a  salute  of  seven- 
teen guns  and  then  proceeded  down  for  Rebellion  roads  and  there 
wait  for  a  Wind  where  we  lay  until  the  twenty  sixth  in  the 
Morning  when  our  Captain  and  pilot  came  on  Board  and 
Gave  orders  for  getting  under  way  all  Hands  being  amediately 
Called  and  with  Joy  and  gladness  in  every  heart  we  was  soon 
Under  way  with  the  saucy  Jack  Privateer  in  company  at 
three  in  the  afternoon  it  came  up  squally  we  carryed  away 
our  fore  Yard  in  the  slings  which  caused  us  to  put  Back  for 
Charleston  at  sundown  it  clearing  off  the  Man  at  Mast  head 
discovered  a  sail  standing  for  the  Land  supposing  her  for  to 
be  the  Dotterel  a  British  Brig  of  War  then  on  that  station 
all  hands  was  called  to  Quarters  where  We  Stayed  until  day- 
light the  next  Morning  as  the  night  and  rainy  and  we  did  not 
wish  to  be  surpris[e]d  by  our  Enemy  We  lay  clost  in  under 
the  Bar  all  night  and  the  next  Morning  we  began  for  to  fire 
signal  guns  of  distress  for  a  Pilot  at  eleven  A  M  we  dispatched 
our  second  Lieutenant  with  six  Men  for  to  go  on  Board  of  the 
United  States  Schooner  Nonsuch  for  a  pilot  but  she  returned 
and  could  not  procure  one  we  clost  Reeft  our  Lower  sails  and 
kept  in  clost  to  the  bar  with  a  Continual  firing  of  signal  guns 
until  dark  at  seven  [in  the]  Morning  we  received  a  pilot  on 
Board  which  con  [ducted  us]  into  Rebellion  roads  our  Captain 
went  directly  up  ...  and  had  a  nother  Yard  Made  which 
was  finish  [ed  that]  Day  and  towed  along  side  then  we  swayed 
it  ...  Rig'd  it  and  sent  it  aloft  and  in  a  few  ...  all 
ready  for  sea  again  on  the  first  day  of  [March]  being  a  pleas- 
ant Breeze  from  the  westward  we  weighed  our  anchor  and 
proceeded  to  sea  having  on  Board  one  Hundred  and  twenty 
Brisk  young  Men  for  to  try  our  Luck  and  fortune  on  Board 
of  the  Herald  of  Eleven  Carriage  gun's  at  four  in  the  after- 
noon the  Man  at  Masthead  discovered  a  sail  all  hands  was 
called  to  Make  sail  in  chase  we  soon  came  up  with  her  she 
proved  for  to  be  a  Spanish  Brig  from  Havannah  [bound]  to 
Philidelphia  the  next  day  we  Boarded  an  ...  schooner  bound 


[  5  ] 

to  Boston Nothing  More  .   .   .  [until]  the  thirtyeth  of 

March  when  the  Man  at  [mast  head]  Discovered  land  it 
proved  to  be  the  .  .  .  [Ma]deira  we  ran  down  a  long  shore 
under  easy  .  .  .  next  Morning  we  discovered  a  sail  in  shore 
.  .  .  chase  and  soon  came  up  with  her  she  proved  for  to  be  an 
Portuguese  brig  from  Madeira  Bound  to  London  after  taking 
out  two  Casks  of  wine  one  Cable  and  some  Letters  and  Bills 
of  Exchange  to  the  amount  of  three  thousand  dollars  and 
getting  the  Imformation  of  an  English  Letter  of  Marque  in 
Madeira  Bound  to  London  the  first  wind  we  permited  them  to 
proceed  here  we  cruised  for  several  day's  but  seeing  no  Letter 
of  Marque  we  bore  up  for  Cadis  Nothing  Material  Occurd 
until  the  eighteenth  of  April  when  the  Man  at  Mast  head  dis- 
covered a  sail  all  hands  was  called  for  to  Make  sail  in  chase 
we  soon  came  up  with  her  she  proved  for  to  be  the  English 
Merchant  Brig  Signet  with  a  cargo  of  wine  and  barley  after 
taking  our  prisoners  out  we  put  a  prize  master  and  Crew  on 
Board  and  ordered  her  for  the  United  States  on  the  twentyeth 
sail  O  again  was  the  Cry  of  the  Man  at  the  Mast  head  all 
hands  was  called  for  to  Make  sail  in  chase  after  coming  up 
with  her  she  proved  to  be  the  English  Merchant  Brig  Harriot 
in  Ballast  after  taking  out  the  Prisoners,  Sails  and  provisions 
&c  we  burnt  her  there  it  appears  that  the  Lord  does  favour  us 
we  steering  away  to  the  Eastward  under  easy  sail  until  the 
twenty  third  we  discovered  a  Brig  Endeavoring  to  shun  us  if 
possible  but  we  soon  in  a  Cloud  of  Sail  overhauled  her  She 
proved  for  to  be  the  English  Merchant  Brig  Place  in  Ballast 
after  taking  out  the  Prisoners,  sails  provisions  and  four  twelve 
Pound  Cannonades  we  burnt  her  that  Evening  We  Boarded 
an  Portuguese  brig  and  put  all  of  our  Prisoners  on  Board  and 
ordered  her  to  Lisbon  by  the  prisoners  request  early  in  the 
Morning  on  the  twenty  Eighth  the  Man  at  Mast  head  discov- 
ered a  sail  on  Boarding  her  we  found  her  to  be  the  same  Brig 
that  we  ordered  for  the  United  States  on  the  Eighteenth  Ins. 
the  prize  master  in  hope's  of  Making  his  fortune  put  back  for 
Cadis  but  he  was  received  on  Board  of  the  Privateer  again 
and  put  in  Confinement  and  one  of  our  foremast  Men  was 
put  on  Board  and  ordered  for  the  States  then  we  bore  up  to 
the  Northward  and  eastward  and  on  the  first  day  of  May  at 
daylight  we  discovered  a  large  Ship  and  a  brig  it  being  Mod- 
erate all  Hands  was  amediately  Called  for  to  out  sweep's  we 


Swept  to  windward  of  them  and  then  Observing  that  they 
wished  for  to  keep  clear  from  us  we  in  Sweeps  and  then  went 
to  breakfast  after  Breakfast  all  Hands  was  called  to  Quarters 
and  sweeps  again  and  hoisting  our  Coleurs  and  then  all  Hands 
with  cheerful  hearts  turned  too  and  by  this  time  the  Brig  had 
displayed  the  Proud  British  flag  and  began  for  to  play  upon 
us  with  her  Stearn  Chaser's  but  we  took  no  notice  of  her 
Shot  but  kept  sweeping  until  the  wind  dying  away  and  a 
Smooth  sea  And  we  did  not  think  it  prudent  for  to  sweep  along 
side  not  knowing  what  she  was  -  -  we  took  in  our  sweeps 
and  Cleared  away  for  Action  there  Shot  still  flying  over  us 
with  British  Glory  we  Spliced  the  Main  Brace  and  then  turned 
too  with  Coolness  we  had  gave  her  but  three  broadsides  when 
she  gave  us  an  Unlucky  shot  between  wind  and  Water  which 
Obliedged  us  for  to  haul  off  as  there  was  six  feet  of  Water  in 
our  hole  and  our  Powder  a  Considerably  damaged  all  hands 
then  turned  too  our  pumps  and  we  stopt  the  Leak  in  a  few 
Minuets  our  eneme  was  by  this  in  a  Crowd  of  sail  Endeavour- 
ing to  get  clear  of  us  but  our  Leak  being  stopt  and  we  all 
Taking  a  Stiff  Dram  we  went  to  our  sweeps  and  sweept 
towards  a  Portuguese  Brig  who  stood  a  Silent  Spectator  to  our 
Unpleasant  play  we  Boarded  her  and  took  out  Several  Boxes 
of  Oranges  and  learnt  by  her  that  the  Enemy  was  a  Brig  of 
war  Mounting  fourteen  Guns  and  Ninty  Men  we  took  in  our 
Boat  and  stowed  her  and  then  Opening  the  boxes  we  ate  up 
all  the  Oranges  and  then  went  to  our  sweeps  again  like  hardy 
tars  and  with  a  light  breeze  of  wind  we  had  the  pleasure  of 
Being  along  of  him  by  dark  when  we  began  our  play  again 
and  Continued  it  until  ten  at  Night  when  it  being  very  dark  and 
we  could  not  See  her  but  when  she  discharged  her  guns  we 
thought  it  best  for  to  Leave  of  our  play  until  daylight  but 
not  forgetting  to  give  her  our  Long  two  and  thirty  every  half 
hour  until  half  past  one  in  the  Morning  when  it  being  our 
Second  Lieutenant's  watch  on  deck  and  he  not  having  a  good 
Lookout  kept  she  Escaped  Us  the  next  Morning  there  being 
several  sail  in  sight  We  gave  Chase  to  the  one  who  was  Most 
suspected  But  she  proved  to  be  an  Neutral  then  we  Turned 
too  for  to  Mend  our  sails  and  Riging  and  the  Carpenters  in  Re- 
pairing the  shot  holes  and  as  kind  heavens  would  have  it  we 

had  no   Employment  for  the   doctor  Nothing   More 

worth  our  Notice  Until  the  eighteenth  when  the  Man  at  the 


Mast  head  discried  a  sail  all  hands  was  called  to  Make  Sail  in 
Chase  at  eleven  in  the  forenoon  we  Came  Up  with  her  she 
proved  to  be  an  Irish  Schooner  With  a  Cargo  of  Provisions 
Bound  to  Lisbon  after  Taking  out  our  prisoners  we  put  a 
prize  Master  and  Crew  on  Board  and  ordered  her  for  the 
United  States  the  next  day  we  boarded  a  neutral  vessel  and 
put  our  prisoners  on  Board  and  wished  them  good  Luck  on 
the  ninth  at  one  P  M  the  Man  at  the  mast  gave  Us  the  Joyful 
cry  of  sail  O  but  as  the  wind  was  Light  We  Made  but  little 
progress  in  coming  up  to  her  at  five  in  the  afternoon  we  dis- 
patched our  Boat  with  the  first  Lieutenant  and  fourteen  Men 
well  arm'd  for  to  see  what  She  Might  be  at  half  past  Nine  the 
Boat  Returned  and  gave  us  the  Joyful  Tidings  that  she  was 
a  Brig  under  Sweedish  Colours  with  a  British  Cargo  of  dry 
goods  and  Jewlery  from  London  Bound  to  Lisbon  we  lay  by 
her  until  the  Next  Morning  then  taking  out  our  Prisoner's 
we  put  a  prize  Master  and  Crew  on  Board  of  her  and  ordered 
them  for  the  United  States  on  the  Eleventh  we  Boarded  an 
Portuguese  Brig  and  transported  our  prisoners  of  her  nothing 
More  worth  our  Notice  until  the  eighteenth  when  at  two  P  M 
as  we  was  standing  on  the  wind  to  the  Southward  and  East- 
ward with  a  stiff  Breeze  we  discovered  a  Brig  Coming  down 
upon  us  with  Studding  sails  below  &  Aloft  we  called  all 
hands  to  Quarters  and  we  hoisted  English  Colours  for  to  see 
what  she  was  But  she  soon  had  the  english  flag  displayed  at 
her  Main  peak  and  began  for  to  Make  signals  to  Which  Made 
us  suspect  that  she  was  a  Brig  of  War  But  that  did  not  Daunt 
us  for  in  a  few  Minuets  we  Was  along  side  of  him  with  our 
English  Colours  still  display'd  at  our  Main  Gaft  as  soon  as 
we  was  within  hail  of  him  we  gave  him  a  Broadside  and 
hoisted  our  Yankey  flag  at  the  Main  topmast  head  when  he 
Returned  us  his  Complyments  by  Giving  us  his  Broad  side 
which  did  us  no  material  Injury  but  on  our  giving  him  two 
more  Doses  of  our  Yankey  Pills  he  Was  Obliedged  for  to 
strike  his  Colours  we  Dispatched  our  Boat  amediately  on 
Board  of  her  which  soon  Returned  Back  and  imformed  us 
that  she  was  his  British  Majesty  Packet  Little  Catharine  from 
falmouth  Bound  to  the  Brazils  with  dispatches  but  that  they 
had  Drowned  there  Mail  and  that  she  was  a  considerably  cut 
in  the  Riging  and  hull  and  had  one  Man  killed  in  the  action 
we  then  Boated  our  Prisoners  with  there  dunage  on  Board 


[  8  ] 

of  us,  the  Little  Catharine  Mounted  ten  carriage  guns  and 
thirty  six  Men  she  was  a  Beautiful  New  and  Copper  Bottom'd 
Brig  and  a  very  fast  sailer  by  the  New's  paper's  that  we  found 
in  the  prize  it  appears  that  the  Brig  that  we  fought  on  the 
first  of  May  was  the  Sir  Frances  Freeland  a  British  Packet 
Mounting  fourteen  gun's  and  had  on  Board  at  the  Commence- 
ment of  the  action  Ninty  six  Men  but  by  our  good  and  well 
directed  shot  we  killed  seventeen  and  wounded  twenty  five 
and  set  her  on  fire  three  Several  times  which  they  Extin- 
guished but  she  Having  on  Board  two  hundred  and  twenty 
Thousand  of  Dollars  in  specia  it  made  them  fight  much  harder 
then  they  would  have  done  providing  they  had  been  in  Ballast 
she  was  towed  into  falmouth  by  a  Frigate  four  day's  after  the 
action  where  there  Captain  had  a  Sword  presented  to  him 
valued  at  one  hundred  Guineas  for  fighting  so  Boldly  and  the 

Brig  Was  hauled  up  Unfit  for  any  More  Service after 

Receiving  our  prisoner  on  Board  we  put  a  Prize  Master  and 
Crew  on  Board  and  ordered  her  for  to  Lay  by  us  until  it 
Moderated  so  that  we  could  Get  out  Provissions  and  Repair 
her  Rigging  at  day  Light  the  next  Morning  the  Man  at  the 
Masthead  Discovered  a  sail  we  gave  chase  to  her  with  our 
prize  in  Company  on  coming  up  with  her  she  proved  for  to 
be  an  Portuguese  Brig  we  soon  transported  our  prisoners'  on 
Board  of  her  and  ordered  her  to  Lisbon  by  the  Prisoners 
request,  the  sea  runing  So  high  we  could  do  nothing  with  our 

prize the  Next  Morning  it  Moderating  we  took  two 

Brass  nine  pounder's  and  thirty  Bushels  of  potatoes  and  then 
ordered  her  for  the  first  port  in  the  United  States  Nothing 
More  occurd  until  the  Ninth  of  June  when  the  Man  at  Mast- 
head Gave  us  the  Joyful  Tiding  that  there  was  a  Strang  sail 
in  sight  all  Hands  was  called  for  to  Make  sail  in  Chase  and 
we  having  a  Stiff  Breeze  we  was  a  long  side  of  her  in  a  short 
time  she  proved  for  to  be  an  Schooner  Under  Russian  Colours 
with  a  Cargo  of  Dry  Goods  and  Brandy  it  being  English  Prop- 
erty we  took  our  prisoners  out  and  put  a  Prize  Master  and 
Crew  on  Board  and  ordered  her  for  the  first  Port  in  the  United 
States  after  taking  out  two  Casks  of  Brandy  the  Man  at  Mast- 
head discovered  Another  sail  we  amediately  ordered  the  Prize 
for  to  Make  the  best  of  her  way  in  the  Meantime  we  Called 
all  Hands  for  to  Make  sail  in  Chase  and  then  Taking  a  Stiff 
horn  of  Brandy  both  fore  and  aft  We  went  to  our  Quarters 
for  to  see  who  this  Large  ship  Might  be  it  being  dark  we  ran 


[  9  ] 

up  Alongside  without  knowing  what  she  was  and  gave  her  a 
Broadside  and  finding  she  did  not  Return  It  We  gave  her  two 
More  Doses  and  then  Dispatch'd  our  Boat  on  Board  of  her 
which  soon  Returned  Back  again  and  Imformed  us  that  she  was 
an  Portuguese  Ship  in  Ballast  from  Madeira  Bound  to  Lisbon 
After  a  strict  overhauling  we  permitted  her  to  precede  While 
we  enjoyed  another  Drop  of  Brandy  the  Fruits  of  our  Labour 
Nothing  more  Worth  noticing  Until  the  seventeenth  of  June 
when  at  daylight  We  discovered  a  Large  schooner  to  Wind- 
ward of  Us  standing  on  the  Wind  as  soon  as  they  perceived 
us  they  Bore  up  we  amediately  called  All  hands  to  Quarters 
Expecting  for  to  have  a  Dust  with  her  she  coming  down  upon 
us  with  all  Sail  set  and  a  Beautiful  Breeze  and  we  perceived 
that  he  had  the  British  flag  displayd  we  Shortned  Sail  for  to 
receive  him  as  soon  as  he  was  within  Gun  shot  we  let  him 
have  a  Broad  side  which  cut  away  his  topsail  Halyards  then 
he  rounded  too  and  we  gave  him  two  More  Broadsides  when 
he  Doused  his  mainsail  as  he  had  his  Colours  Sewed  on  the 
Leach  of  his  mainsail  expecting  for  to  frighten  us  but  he 
found  his  Mistake  we  Amediately  dispatched  our  Boat  on 
Board  of  her  which  soon  Returned  back  and  Imformed  us 
that  she  was  the  English  Merchant  schooner  John  from  Bar- 
badoes  Bound  to  Lisbon  in  Ballast  and  there  Captain  drinking 
too  freely  that  Morning  he  thought  himself  on  Board  of  A 
Frigate  and  he  said  to  his  Crew  that  he  could  take  a  Yanky 
Privateer  without  firing  a  gun  but  alas  how  soon  the  Case 
was  altered  for  Myself  with  three  More  Went  into  his  Cabin 
and  draged  him  from  his  Cot  and  Tumbled  him  into  the  Boat 
without  either  hat  Coat  or  Shoes  on  and  Transported  him  on 
Board  of  the  Privateer  with  the  Remainder  of  his  Crew  then 
We  onbent  his  Sails  and  sent  them  on  Board  of  us  then  we 
set  fire  to  her  and  Left  her  to  the  Mercy  of  the  Waves  and 
Flames  our  privateer  by  this  time  getting  foul  we  thought  it 
Most  prudent  for  to  Make  the  best  of  our  way  home  on  the 
twenty  fifth  we  touched  at  Santa  Crista  for  Water  And  Fresh 
provisions  after  receiving  forty  Hogsheads  of  Water  sixty 
Bushels  of  potatoes  six  sheep  and  three  Bullocks  we  took  our 
departure  on  the  Thirtyeth  we  Boarded  a  Portuguese  ship 
from  Lisbon  Bound  to  the  Brazils  with  provisions  we  took  out 
thirty  Barrels  of  Bread  and  one  Barrel  of  hams  we  paid  for 
them  in  the  Bill  of  Exchange  that  we  took  out  of  the  Portu- 
guese Brig  but  he  Might  as  Well  have  had  the  Leaf  of  an 


old  Almanack  as  the  Bill  of  Exchange,  for  there  payment  was 

stopt but  as  he  thought  himself  well  paid  we  had  no 

Occasion  to  think  hard  nothing  more  until  the  fourth  of  July 
in  the  Morning  it  being  Moderate  and  very  foggy  we  took 
in  all  sail  for  to  Celebrate  the  day  at  Eleven  in  the  forenoon 
all  Hands  was  called  for  to  Splice  the  Main  Brace  at  Noon 
we  fired  a  salute  of  seventeen  guns  and  then  we  went  to  drink- 
ing the  Remainder  of  the  Day  Nothing  More  occurd  until  the 
first  of  August  when  the  Man  at  Masthead  discovered  a  Sail  all 
Hands  was  then  called  aft  for  to  see  if  they  was  Willing  for  to 
go  in  chase  but  we  being  eager  for  to  Improve  our  Oppertunity 
not  knowing  how  Soon  that  we  might  have  our  Liberty  taken 
from  Us  we  Replied  that  we  would  see  her  by  all  means  in  a 
few  Minuets  we  was  in  a  Cloud  of  Sail  but  as  the  Wind  was 
light  we  did  not  Reach  her  that  Night,  at  daylight  the  next 
Morning  she  being  About  three  miles  dist1-  from  us  we  Man'd 
out  our  Boat  with  our  First  Lieutenant  Myself  and  ten  Men  well 
arm'd  for  to  see  what  she  was  on  Boarding  her  she  proved  for  to 
be  an  English  Brig  from  Halifax  Bound  to  the  west  India  with 
A  Cargo  of  Fish  and  Lumber  after  taking  out  the  prisoners  we 
put  a  prize  Master  and  Crew  and  ordered  her  for  the  first  port 
in  the  United  States  Nothing  more  worth  our  Noticeing  here 
Until  the  ninth  ins*  when  the  Man  at  the  Mast  head  discovered 
a  sail  all  hands  was  Called  for  to  Make  sail  in  Chase  at  two  in 
the  Afternoon  we  got  near  enough  for  to  see  that  she  was  a 
schooner  at  three  the  Wind  freshening  we  Carryed  away  our 
fore  gaft  but  we  soon  had  it  repaird  and  Renewed  the  Chase  at 
four  we  gave  him  a  Gun  and  hoisted  English  Colours  but  they 
refusing  to  show  there  Colours  We  ran  up  alongside  of  him  and 
gave  him  three  Broadsides  for  not  showing  his  Colours  we  Dis- 
patched our  Boat  on  Board  of  him  and  Conveyed  there  Captain 
on  Board  of  us,  on  Enquiring  the  Reason  of  his  not  showing  his 
Colours  he  replyd  that  he  had  two  sets  of  Colours  and  he  did  Not 
know  which  one  for  to  hoist  he  said  That  he  was  from  Anaplis 
Nova  Scotia  bound  to  the  West  India  with  a  Cargo  of  fish  and 
Lumber  after  taking  out  the  prisoners  we  put  A  prize  Master 
and  Crew  on  Board  and  ordered  her  for  the  first  port  in  the 
United  States  We  then  kept  on  our  Course  in  great  hopes  of 
getting  on  shore  to  our  Native  Land  but  alas  our  hopes  was  at 
an  end  for  on  the  fifteenth  of  August  at  day  light  in  the  Morn- 
ing we  discovered  two  Frigate's  within  three  gun  shots  of  Us 
we  soon  had  all  hands  Up  and  crowded  all  sail  but  our  enemy 
was  in  a  Cloud  of  sail  in  a  few  Minuets  and  soon  Comme[n]ced 


[  ii  3 

firing  with  there  Bow  Chasers  upon  us  but  to  no  purpose  until 
one  of  them  out  sailing  the  other  came  up  with  us  so  that  her 
Shot  Reached  us  then  we  began  for  to  play  upon  her  with  our 
stern  Chasers  until  she  came  with  in  Musquet  Shot  then  seing 
that  we  could  not  get  Clear  our  Captain  thus  addrest  us —  Men 
younow  See  that  we  cannot  get  Clear  of  our  enemy  I  hope  that 
you  will  stick  to  your  Quarters  and  if  they  give  us  but  One  gun 
after  our  Colours  is  doust  we  will  run  them  Up  again  and  fight 
until  we  sink  a  long  side  of  them  then  giving  our  Noble  Com- 
mander three  Huzza's  we  ceased  firing  and  doused  our  Colours 
to  our  great  Mortification  then  we  went  below  for  to  pack  up 
our  Dunage  but  we  was  soon  Hurryed  into  the  boats  for  the 
Enemy  to  take  Command  of  the  Herald  of  Seventeen  Carriage 
guns  we  was  carryed  on  Board  of  the  Armied  Frigate  fifty  four 
in  Number  of  us  and  then  one  half  was  transported  on  Board  of 
the  Endymon  Frigate  they  Man'd  the  privateer  and  ordered  her 
for  Halifax  then  the  Frigates  Stood  in  for  Marthas  Vinyard  on 
the  next  day  they  Captured  the  Invincible  Napoleon  after  a 
Cruise  of  sixty  day's  from  Charleston  Bound  into  New  York 
but  those  fatal  Devils  (the  English)  put  an  end  to  there  as  well 
as  our  Carier  that  Evening  they  fell  in  with  the  Majestic  razea 
Bound  to  the  Chesapeak  who  ordered  the  two  Frigates  to  Hali- 
fax where  we  arrived  on  the  twenty  second  and  on  the  twenty 
fourth  we  was  Conveyed  to  prison  on  Melville  Island*  there  i 
found  Mr.  Samuel  Cook  our  first  Mate  When  we  left  Boston  in 
the  Monkey  W  Edwards  and  several  other  Salem  Men  here  i 
was  Imformed  of  My  Brother  Samuels  Death,  and  that  all  the 
Young  people  in  salem  was  Married  or  Expected  to  be  on  the 
seventeeth  of  September  Josiah  Gwinn  and  William  Gray  re- 
ceived Letters  from  Salem  There  was  one  also  came  for  Samuel 
Lambert  but  as  he  was  put  out  in  the  first  prize  I  took  his  Letter 
under  my  Care  and  thought  that  the  Lord  has  not  forgot  Me  if 
My  Friends  has  for  he  has  put  a  Letter  into  My  hand's  altho'  it 
was  not  Sent  to  Me  i  took  full  as  much  pleasure  in  readin[g]  it 
and  if  i  should  fall  in  with  him  it  would  Be  a  great  satisfaction 
for  him  to  hear  from  home  on  the  twenty  first  of  September  the 
Crew  of  the  Ida  of  Boston  was  Marched  here,  I  Learnt  by  Mr 
Enos  Knowlton  of  Salem  that  My  Parents  Brothers  and  Sister 
was  in  good  Health  when  he  Left  home  that  was  on  the  third  of 
June  and  that  My  Brother  George  lived  in  Lynn  this  was  the  first 
time  that  i  have  heard  From  My  Parents  since  i  Left  home  it 
Being  now  Nine  Months  he  also  Imformed  Me  that  those  Let- 

*See  letter,  page  89. 


[  12  ] 

ters  that  i  sent  on  From  Charleston  S  C  all  went  safe  home — 
here  prisoners  was  coming  in  dayly  while  a  Great  Number  paid 
the  debt  of  Nature  and  went  to  there  Long  home  we  Made  this 
our  home  Until  the  twenty  seventh  when  two  hundred  and  Fifty 
of  us  was  transported  on  Board  of  the  Akbar  Frigate  for  Eng- 
land here  we  was  confm'd  in  her  hole  where  we  could  have  no 
Light  nor  Enjoy  the  Wholesome  air  but  in  darkness  we  Was 
Obliedged  to  Lay  both'  Day  and  Night  for  We  had  not  Highth 
enough  for  to  set  on  our  Back  Sides  but  to  eat  Drink  and  sleep 
we  Must  Lay  too  it  i  had  been  in  this  Situation  but  a  few  day's 
with  my  Fellow  Prisoners  when  I  was  taken  down  Sick  with  a 
Slow  Fever  and  in  the  Course  of  one  week  there  was  fifty  Seven 
taken  down  with  the  same  Deseas  and  every  day  there  was  More 
or  Less  paid  the  debt  of  Nature  no  Tender  Mother  for  to  Nurse 
them  no  Friends  nor  Relation  to  Mourn  for  them  and  no  ac- 
quaintance for  to  Shed  Tears  When  my  Messmates  would  come 
and  tell  Me  that  a  Nother  was  Just  Launched  to  there  Watery 
Tomb  I  did  certainly  Expect  for  to  be  the  next  But  it  pleased 
the  Lord  that  I  should  Recover  My  Health  again  on  the  twenty 
seventh  we  Discovered  the  Land  and  on  the  twenty  ninth  We 
arived  at  Plymouth  Engd-  as  soon  as  we  came  to  Anchor  i  had 
the  Privalige  of  Purchasing  some  Bread  Butter  and  Milk  and 
Fruit  Which  finly  Reviv'd  Me  on  the  thirty  first  of  October  we 
was  Landed  in  plymouth  and  Marched  to  dartmoor  it  being 
about  sixteen  Miles  in  the  Country  and  the  Roads  Exceeding  bad 
and  the  Most  was  Without  shoes  or  stockings  and  the  Soldiers 
pricking  us  up  with  there  Bayonets  thus  we  poor  half  Starv'd 
prisoners  was  Marched  in  the  Rain  from  seven  in  the  Morning 
until  half  past  Eight  in  the  Evening  without  having  one  Morsel 
to  eat  and  cast  into  a  dark  Cold  and  Wet  Prison  without  having 
where  with  all  to  eat  or  rest  our  weary  Limbs  upon  thus  we  Was 
Locked  up  for  to  spend  a  Cold  and  disagreable  Night  in  the 
Morning  there  Clerk  Entered  With  a  Band  of  soldiers  for  to 
take  the  highth's  Complection's  and  where  we  was  born  and  then 
turned  us  Into  the  Yard  for  to  Receive  hammocks  beds  and 
Blankets  that  was  as  full  of  Lice  as  the  Devil  is  of  Wickedness 
but  howasever  those  did  not  frighten  us  after  taking  Breakfast 
I  took  a  Walk  round  the  Prison's  and  here  i  found  our  First 
prizes  Crew  that  had  been  here  three  Months  and  I  gave  Samuel 
Lambert  his  Letter  I  also  found  here  Confind  in  these  prisons 
Four  thousands  and  five  Hundred  American's  for  to  Lement 
there  dismal  Situation  and  amongst  them  there  was  five  hundred 
Salem  Men  this  Was  the  first  time  that  ever  i  found  all  Salem 


[  13  ] 

together  after  dinner  i  thought  on  getting  in  to  some  prison  for 
to  hang  up  my  Hammoc  after  walking  round  some  time  i  took 
up  my  Lodgings  in  Number  seven  prison  for  to  pass  A  Cold  and 
tegeous  Winter — Now  i  will  give  the  discriptions  of  those  pris- 
on's as  Near  as  i  can  firstly — there  is  seven  prison's  that  stands 
in  a  Circular  form,  each  of  them  large  enough  for  to  Contain 
eighteen  hundred  Men,  Number  four  or  the  Middle  prison  is  for 
the  Blacks  in  which  there  is  Schools  kept  of  all  Descriptions 
such  as  Dancing  Fencing  Boxing  and  Music  schools — Secondly — 
on  the  top  of  a  Mountain  where  the  Clouds  ranges  the  ground 
these  prison's  are  pitcht  where  it  Must  be  on  a  very  Clear  day 
that  we  can  see  from  one  prison  to  the  other,  the  First  Month 
that  I  had  the  pleasure  of  being  in  these  palaces  we  never  had 
sight  of  the  sun  but  three  different  times  and  nothing  but  a  con- 
tinual rain  from  the  first  of  November  to  the  first  of  January — 
Thirdly — these  prison's  is  an  Excilent  school  for  all  those  that 
had  Led  an  Irregular  Life  for  all  those  that  has  been  given  to 
Drunkardness  here  before,  they  have  time  dayly  for  to  Realise 
there  past  Conduct  and  to  see  the  fruits  of  hard  drinking  for  it 
Brings  on  all  kinds  of  Bad  Vices  such  as  Idleness  Lazyness 
Thieving  and  at  Last  the[y]  Commit  a  Murder  which  puts  an  end 
to  there  Lives.  Fourthly — to  those  that  never  knew  the  Value 
of  Money  will  Learn  by  Living  here  how  to  be  Saving  and  frugal 
for  the  time  to  Come,  here  they  can  see  that  some  that  has  been 
saving  and  has  had  Money  when  they  came  into  these  prisons 
can  with  there  scanty  allowance  and  a  Little  Money  Live  very 
Comfortable,  while  those  that  had  Money  when  they  had  there 
Liberty  would  stay  on  Shore  Until  every  Cent  was  gone  and  then 
would  be  Obliedged  for  to  put  to  sea  again  without  a  penny  for 
to  help  them  selves  and  then  they  would  get  Captured  by  there 
enemy  and  sent  to  this  place  and  the  first  thing  that  they  would 
do  would  be  for  to  sell  off  what  few  Clothes  they  had  and  then 
they  would  be  'tempted  by  the  help  of  the  Devil  for  to  steal  from 
there  Mess  Mates  and  Fellow  prisoner's  and  then  there  backs 
would  be  Brought  to  disgrace  and  there  eyes  open'd,  then  they 
would  see  wherein  they  had  been  wrong,  thus  we  May  see  that 
a  prison  although  it  is  a  place  of  Confinment  it  is  the  best  School 
that  ever  Man  or  Boy  went  into,  if  they  will  but  give  heade  to 
what  they  hear  and  see — Fifthly  a  person  in  these  prisons  should 
take  great  Care  of  his  health  for  in  taking  cold's  it  Creates  a 
bad  Cough  and  hoarsness  and  then  if  he  goes  into  the  Hospital 
he  at  first  is  put  into  a  Cold  Bath  and  then  he  is  Bled  as  long  as 
he  has  a  drop  of  Blood  in  his  Veins,  I  knew  a  Man  that  went  into 


the  hospital  with  a  Bad  cold  and  he  at  the  first  Bleeding  had 
two  hundred  and  forty  ounces  of  Blood  taken  from  him,  the 
doctors  here  Makes  a  practice  of  Bleeding  a  person  as  long  as 
he  has  Breath  to  draw — 

Now  i  shall  go  on  with  My  dayly  Observations 

November  the  first  i  spent  the  day  in  Company  with  My 
acquaintanc  and  seeing  the  Fashons,  On  the  second  i  finding 
Myself  Very  unwell  i  kept  My  house  and  was  Visited  by 
Joseph  Pitman  of  Salem 

On  the  third  i  remained  in  Much  the  same  state  of  Health 
i  was  visited  by  several  of  My  Acquaintanc  who  advised  me 
for  to  see  the  Doctor  On  the  fourth  i  perceiving  My  Cold 
Increasing  I  went  into  the  Hospital  for  Advice  from  the  Doc- 
tor he  gave  Me  a  dose  of  Phisic  with  Which  i  am  in  hope's 
for  to  get  Relief 

On  the  fifth  i  found  but  Little  Relief  From  my  Phisic  in 
the  fore  part  of  the  day  I  took  a  Walk  out  for  to  see  My 
Acquaintance  in  the  after  Noon  it  being  wet  i  kept  My  house 

On  the  sixth  i  was  visited  by  several  Salem  Men  where  i 
passed  the  day  very  Comfortably 

On  the  seventh  i  perceived  My  health  Much  recovered  i 
made  a  visit  into  N°  one  prison 

On  the  eighth  it  being  wet  and  Disagreable  Weather  i 
kept  house  and  passed  the  [time]  In  Company  with  Mr  Israel 
Phippen  and  William  Ashton  of  Salem  Mass 

On  the  Ninth  I  Made  a  tour  over  to  Number  one  and  three 
prison's  and  returned  again  At  noon  and  kept  house  the 
remainder  of  the  day 

On  the  tenth  we  had  two  hundred  Fellow  Prisoners  arrive 
here  from  Chatham  in  which  was  the  following  Salem  men 
R  Wiggins  W  Abbott  and  John  Beckford  and  John  Fisher 

On  the  Eleventh  i  was  visited  by  Joseph  Pitman  and  William 
Garret  and  the  Evening  i  passed  in  Company  with  J  Phippen 

On  the  twelfth  i  made  a  tour  over  to  Number  three  prison 
in  Company  With  P  W  Pinder  and  E  Perkins 

On  the  Thirteenth  i  kept  House  during  the  day  and  the 
Evening  was  passed  in  Company  with  Mr  Felt  and  Daniel 
Very 

On  the  fourteenth  i  passed  the  Day  in  Writing  and  the 
Evening  in  Company  With  Josiah  Gwinn  and  Joseph  Millet 

On  the  fifteenth  I  Made  a  tour  over  to  Number  one  and 
three  prisons  in  Company  with  Samuel  Lambert 


[  15  ] 

On  the  sixteenth  I  was  Visited  by  John  Ingersol  of  Salem 

on  the  Seventeeth  I  passed  the  day  and  evening  at  home  in 
company  with  E  A  Porter 

On  the  Eighteenth  i  Made  a  tour  over  to  Number  one 
prison  with  Josiah  Gwinn  in  Company  and  in  the  evening  i 
was  Visited  by  Mr  William  Ashton  and  W  Richardson 

On  the  Ninteenth  I  passed  the  day  in  Company  with  Josiah 
Orne  and  J  Snow  , 

On  the  Twentyeth  I  Made  a  tour  Into  Number  four  Prison 
for  to  see  two  Black  Men  Flog'd  for  Stealing  from  there  Fellow 
Prisoners  I  passed  the  evening  with  John  Phippen 

On  the  twenty  first  I  Made  a  tour  through  Number  Five  prison 
for  the  first  time  and  in  the  Evening  i  was  favoured  with  the 
Company  of  Mrss  Israel  and  John  Phippen  and  Samuel  Shepherd 

On  the  twenty  second  i  Made  a  visit  through  Number  one 
and  three  prison's  in  Company  With  Mrss  Samuel  and  Charles 
Green  of  Salem 

On  the  twenty  third  i  kept  house  and  had  Several  of  My 
Acquaintanc  to  Visit  Me 

On  the  twenty  fourth  I  passed  the  Day  in  Writing  and  the 
evening  was  spent  in  Company  with  E  A  Porter  Samuel  Archer 
And  William  Richardson  of  Salem 

On  the  twenty  fifth  I  passed  the  fore  part  Of  the  day  in  Com- 
pany with  Joseph  Pitman  in  the  afternoon  we  had  a  small  draft 
of  Eleven  Men  Arrive  here  from  Plymouth,  No  Salem  Men 

On  the  twenty  sixth  I  passed  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in 
Number  four  prison  in  Company  With  Nathaniel  Silsby  and 
Edward  Gale 

On  the  twenty  seventh  i  Made  a  Visit  Into  Number  five  prison 
in  Company  with  Messrs  Wigging  and  Upton  and  Nehemiah 
Butman 

On  the  twenty  eighth  I  wore  away  the  fore  part  of  the  day 
in  writing  and  in  the  afternoon  amongst  My  Friends  in  talking 
About  the  Salem  Girls  &c. 

On  the  twenty  Ninth  in  the  Morning  I  Made  a  Tour  through 
All  the  prisons  and  in  the  Afternoon  and  Evening  in  Company 
with  J  Gwinn 

On  the  thirtyeth  I  Received  a  Visit  from  Samuel  Lambert 
and  Joseph  Pitman  and  in  the  Evening  I  was  in  Company  with 
S  Archer 

December  the  first  I  kept  My  house  and  Wrote  during  the 
day  and  the  Evening  In  Company  with  Mp  Felt  of  Salem 


[  16  ] 

On  the  Second  I  took  Breakfast  With  Messrs  Niel  and 
Strout  and  the  Remainder  of  the  day  in  Re-ading 

On  the  third  I  kept  My  house  and  was  Visited  by  Mr 
Upton  and  the  Evening  was  spent  in  Company  with  Samuel 
Shepherd 

On  the  fourth  I  went  into  Number  four  Prison  for  to  see 
the  Fashons  and  pass  the  time 

On  the  Fifth  I  was  at  the  Trial  of  our  Cook's  during  the 
day  and  late  in  the  Evening  the  Jury  Brought  in  there  Verdict 
Guilty  of  Robbing  there  Fellow  Prisoner's  of  there  Small 
Allowance  and  Skimming  the  fat  from  of  the  Soup  they  was 
Sentenced  for  to  Receive  Eighteen  Lashes  each  on  there 
Naked  back  As  an  Example  for  others 

On  the  Sixth  I  paid  a  Visit  to  P  W  Pinder  and  Elijah 
Perkins  of  Salem 

On  the  Seventh  I  kept  My  house  and  Was  favoured  with 
the  Company  of  Daniel  Very  and  the  Evening  in  Company 
with  John  Phippen 

On  the  Eighth  I  Made  a  Visit  into  Number  five  prison 
and  past  a  few  hour's  in  Company  with  John  Beckford  of  Salem 

On  the  Ninth  I  went  to  see  two  Young  Boy's  Floged  for 
Stealing  a  Pound  Note  From  there  Mess  Mates  they  Received 
two  Dozen  each  on  there  Naked  Backs  Not  for  Stealing,  but 
for  being  Cought 

On  the  tenth  I  Made  a  tour  through  Number  four  prison 
for  to  pass  a  dull  and  Tegeous  hour  and  the  Evening  in  Com- 
pany with  Samuel  Shepherd  and  William  Felt 

On  the  Eleventh  I  Made  a  Visit  over  to  Number  one  and 
three  prisons  in  Company  with  Josiah  Orne  and  James  Snow 

On  the  Twelfth  I  went  into  Number  five  prison  for  to  see 
John  Taylor  Junr  the  Son  of  Captain  John  Taylor  of  New 
York  Who  had  hung  himself  During  the  Night 

May  the  Lord  be  with  him  and  the  Devil  Miss  him 

On  the  thirteenth  I  kept  My  house  and  Was  Visited  by 
James  Harrison  and  E  Gale 

On  the  fourteenth  I  Made  a  Tour  through  all  the  prisons' 
for  to  pass  a  way  the  Tegeous  time  which  goes  heavily  here 
In  Confinement  the  Evening  with  W  Ashton 

On  the  fifteenth  I  Made  a  Visit  to  Joseph  Pitman  and  John 
Chadwick 

On  the  sixteenth  I  Made  a  Visit  over  to  Number  four  for 
to  see  the  Fashons 


On  the  Seventeeth  I  kept  My  House  and  Received  Com- 
pany as  they  Came 

On  the  Eighteenth  I  Made  a  tour  through  Number  one 
three  prisons'  in  Company  with  Mr  Robertson  and  Josiah 
Orne  of  Salem 

On  the  Nineteeth  I  made  a  Tower  through  Number  five 
Prison  for  to  see  My  Acquaintanc 

On  the  twentyeth  I  kept  My  house  and  spent  the  day  in 
writing  and  the  Evening  in  tompany  with  John  Phippen 

On  the  twenty  first  I  Made  a  Tour  through  Number  four 
for  to  see  the  fashons  and  to  hear  the  New's  of  the  day  of 
which  we  have  a  plenty  of  about  this  time 

On  the  twenty  second  I  Made  a  Visit  Into  Number  five 
prison  in  Company  with  John  Beckford  and  Richard  wiggins 
of  Salem 

On  the  twenty  third  I  kept  My  house  after  taking  My 
Morning  walk  and  Was  visited  by  Mr  Isreal  Phippen  of  Salem 

On  the  twenty  fourth  I  past  the  Day  in  Company  with 
Joseph  Pitman  in  talking  about  the  pleasure's  of  Salem 

On  the  twenty  fifth  i  past  the  day  in  writing  and  the 
Evening  with  Mr  Eulin  of  Salem 

On  the  twenty  sixth  I  Made  a  Tour  through  Number  one 
three  and  five  prisons  for  to  See  my  Acquaintanc  and  hear  the 
News 

On  the  twenty  seventh  I  was  visited  by  Mr  Samuel  Green 
and  John  Millet 

On  the  twenty  eighth  we  had  a  Draft  of  four  hundred  and 
fifty  arrive  here  from  Halifax  and  the  Cape  of  Good  hope 
amongst  them  was  the  Crew  of  the  General  Putman  Privateer 
of  Salem  Chiefly  Salem  men 

On  the  twenty  Ninth  i  was  in  Company  with  William 
Boden  of  Salem 

On  the  thirtyeth  I  kept  My  house  and  Received  Company 
as  it  came  both6  good  and  bad 

On  the  thirty  first  I  made  a  Visit  Over  to  Number  one  and 
was  Imformed  that  the  Preliminaries  of  Peace  was  signd  on 
the  twenty  fourth  Inst  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Briton  which  was  a  Joyful  News 

January  the  first  1815  we  had  the  American  flag  display'd 
on  each  of  the  prison's  and  then  with  three  hearty  Huzzas 
We  Congratulated  each  other  and  then  we  passt  the  day  in 
talking  of  home 


[  18  ] 

On  the  Second  I  kept  My  house  and  pass'd  the  day  in 
writing  &c  &c  &c 

On  the  third  I  was  at  the  trial  of  William  Shute  for  Stealing 
a  Watch  from  One  of  his  messmates  the  Jury  after  being  Out 
for  one  hour  Brought  in  there  Virdict  that  the  Prisoner  was 
Guilty  and  Sentancet  him  to  Receive  thirty  six  Lashes  on  his 
Naked  Back  for  to  teach  him  better  the  Next  time 

On  the  fourth  I  Made  a  Visit  to  Mr  Samuel  Shepherd  and 
William  Ashton  and  the  Evening  in  Company  with  S  Archer 

On  the  fifth  I  being  a  little  Lame  I  kept  My  house  and  was 
Visited  by  a  Number  Of  My  acquaintance  two  Numerous  to 
Mention. 

On  the  Sixth  I  was  Visited  by  Joseph  Pitman  and  P  W  Pinder 
who  Imformed  Me  that  My  old  Ship  mate  Daniel  Appleton  had 
departed  this  Life  by  the  Small  Pox 

On  the  seventh  I  Yet  Remaining  Lame  I  kept  my  house  in 
the  Afternoon  We  had  a  Small  draft  of  thirty  Men  came  Up 
from  Plymouth  Chiefly  Salem  Men  the  Next  that  Comes  will  be 
Blind  George  the  Cryer 

On  the  eighth  I  finding  Myself  Very  Unwell  I  kept  My  Bed 
and  Received  no  Company 

On  the  Ninth  I  Remained  in  Much  the  Same  State  of  Illness — 

On  the  tenth  I  perceiving  My  Self  A  Little  better  I  took  My 
regular  walk  round  the  prisons  in  Company  with  E  A  Porter 

On  the  Eleventh  I  kept  My  house  and  was  in  Company  with 
Joshua  Strout 

On  the  twelfth  in  the  afternoon  One  of  the  Missionary  Min- 
isters Came  into  N°  four  Prison  for  to  preach  to  the  Prisoners 

On  the  thirteenth  the  Court  Sat  on  A  Young  Man  for  Steal- 
ing a  Great  Coat  he  Was  Sentanced  to  Receive  four  Dozen  of 
Lashes  on  his  Naked  Back  but  after  Receiving  twenjty  Six  he 
fainted  away  which  Caused  him  for  to  be  Released  for  another 
Oppertunity 

On  the  fourteenth  I  Made  a  Tour  through  Number  one  three 
and  five  prison's  for  to  See  My  Acquaintance 

On  the  fifteenth  this  Morning  I  Was  Imformed  that  Mr 
Daniel  Archer  of  Salem  had  departed  this  Life  in  the  hospital 

On  the  Sixteenth  I  kept  house  and  Was  Visited  by  J  Orene  J 
Strout  J  Snow  and  Several  others  too  Numerous  to  Mention 

On  the  seventeenth  in  the  Morning  I  Made  a  Visit  to  N* 
four  prison  and  the  afternoon  I  went  over  to  Number  one  prison 
for  to  see  a  fellow  prisoner  have  two  Large  Letters  put  into  his 
Cheeks  for  being  a  Traitor  to  his  Country  and  damning  the  flag 


On  the  Eighteenth  after  taking  My  Morning  walk  i  was  YJS- 
ited  by  J  Orne  also  a  small  draft  arrived  here  from  Plymouth 

On  the  Ninteeth  In  the  fore  part  of  the  day  I  kept  house 
and  in  the  Afternoon  I  Made  a  Visit  into  N°  four 

On  the  twentyeth  I  passed  the  day  in  Writing  and  the  Even- 
ing in  Company  with  D  Very 

On  the  twenty  first  we  had  our  Market  Stopt  on  Account  of 
three  Men  of  this  prison  taking  down  the  Window  Shetters  of  N° 
Six  prison  and  Making  table's  of  them 

On  the  twenty  second  the  Prisoner's  of  N°  one  three  four  & 
five  Prison's  Sent  a  Letter  into  our,  or  N°  seven  Prison,  to  Im- 
form  Us  that  if  we  did  Not  deliver  up  those  three  Men  to  Capt 
Shortland  that  they  would  Come  and  take  him  by  force  but  with- 
out waiting  for  an  answer  at  two  in  the  afternoon  there  was  six- 
teen hundred  Men  assembled  and  Came  into  this  prison  and  took 
the  Men  by  force  and  delivered  them  up  to  Capt  Shorland  and 
the  Cashot  brought  them  Up 

On  the  twenty  third  we  had  our  Market  open'd  and  in  the 
Afternoon  I  Made  a  Tour  through  N°  one  three  &  four  prisons 
In  Company  with  Josiah  Gwinn  of  Salem  and  Several  More  of 
My  Acquaintanc 

On  the  twenty  fourth  I  kept  My  house  and  was  Visited  by 
Joseph  Pitman 

On  the  twenty  fifth  I  Made  a  Visit  to  Josiah  Orne  and  James 
Snow 

On  the  twenty  Sixth  in  My  Morning  Walk  I  was  Imformed 
of  the  Death  of  Mr  Daniel  Very  of  Salem  who  Departed  this 
Life  Last  Evening  in  the  Hospital,  In  the  Afternoon  I  received 
My  Monthly  Pay  of  Six  Shillings  and  Eight  pence 

On  the  twenty  Seventh  I  kept  My  house  and  was  Visited  by 
Joseph  Millet 

On  the  twenty  Eighth  I  past  the  day  in  Company  with  Josiah 
Gwinn  &  William  Ashton 

On  the  twenty  Ninth  it  being  on  Sunday  i  went  into  N* 
four  Prison  for  to  hear  the  Black  Preacher  and  to  My  Great 
Surprise  I  saw  Joseph  Pitman  on  his  Humble  knee's  Offering  up 
his  prayers  to  his  Almighty  God 

On  the  thirtyeth  in  the  Afternoon  I  was  Visited  by  P  W 
Pinder  who  Imformed  Me  that  James  Snow  and  Joseph  Pitman 
had  been  taken  into  the  Black  Society  Likwise  they  had  moved 
there  Bags  &  hammocks  into  the  Black  Prison 

On  the  Thirtyeth  first  this  Morning  Josiah  Gwinn  went  into 
the  Hospital  with  the  Small  Pox  and  I  am  fearful  that  he  Will 


[  20  ] 

End  his  days  in  this  place  as  the  Small  pox  Rages  Very  Rapid, 
I  was  Imformed  that  Seven  poor  Souls  Departed  this  Life  Last 
Night 

February  the  First  I  kept  house  and  Was  Visited  by  Josiah 
Orne  and  William  Gray  but  Could  hear  Nothing  from  My  Old 
Friend 

On  the  Second  I  Made  a  Tour  through  N°  one  three  and 
four  Prison's  in  Company  with  Mr  Gray  in  the  Afternoon  the 
Doctors  from  the  Hospital  Made  a  Visit  through  all  the 
prison's  and  desird  all  those  that  Never  had  the  Small  Pox 
for  to  be  Noculated  for  to  prevent  this  Infectious  Disorder 
from  Raging  farther  In  the  Afternoon  I  went  into  N°  four 
Prison  for  to  hear  the  Word  of  God  Preached  by  a  White 
Minister  from  Plymouth 

On  the  third  Early  in  the  Morning  A  Jury  of  Doctors  came 
for  to  Examine  the  prison's  and  Found  the  air  for  to  be  Nine 
Degrees  warmer  on  the  Middle  Deck  than  out  of  Doors  and 
fifteen  on  the  Upper  Deck 

On  the  fourth  this  Morning  I  Received  A  Letter  from  the 
doctors  assistant  to  Imform  Me  that  My  Old  Friend  Josiah 

Gwinn  was  very  Low  and  dangerously  Sick  late  in  the 

Afternoon  we  had  the  prize  Crew  of  the  Privateer  Brutus 
Arive  here  —  one  More  Salem  Man-  by  the  Name  of  Swaysey 

on  the  fifth  in  the  Morning  I  Visited  Josiah  Orne  and  in 
the  Afternoon  I  went  to  Meeting  in  Number  four  Prison  In 
Company  with  Samuel  Archer  and  James  Harrison  of  Salem 

On  the  Sixth  I  took  a  tour  through  N°  four  Prison  in 
Company  with  P  W  Pinder 

On  the  Seventh  In  My  Morning  Walk  I  was  Imformed 
that  Mr  Robert  Adams  of  our  Privateer  had  departed  this 
Life  last  Evening  in  the  hospital  --  but  nothing  from  J  Gwin 

On  the  Eighth  this  Morning  E  A  Porter  went  into  the 
hospital  from  our  Mess  in  the  Afternoon  I  Received  a  Visit 
from  Capt  Josiah  Orne  of  Salem 

on  the  Ninth  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day  I  past  in  Reading 
in  the  afternoon  to  Meeting 

On  the  tenth  I  past  the  day  in  Writing  and  the  Evening  in 
Company  with  Mr  John  Phippen  and  W  Ashton 

On  the  Eleventh  I  passed  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in  Com- 
pany with  Wm  Gray  in  the  afternoon  I  Received  a  Letter  from 
Mr  Edward  A  Porter  who  Inform's  me  that  Josiah  Gwinn  is 
very  dangerously  Sick 


On  the  twelfth  early  this  Morning  I  Received  a  letter  from 
Mr  Wm  Young  he  Imforms  me  that  Josiah  Gwinn  is  past  all 
hope's  of  Recovery  Likwise  desirded  that  if  I  wished  for  to 
have  him  Laid  out  decent  for  to  have  a  Shirt  and  handkerchief 

sent  in  I  Imediately  sent  him  a  White  Shirt  and  hand- 

kerch[ief] 

On  the  thirteenth  I  passed  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in  Com- 
pany with  Mr  I  phippen  And  Mr  price  in  the  Afternoon  with 
J  Pitman  and  James  Snow  of  Salem 

On  the  fourteenth  we  had  our  Market  stopt  for  Refusing  to 
Deliver  up  the  prize  Master  of  the  Vivid — he  for  Attempting  for 
to  Blow  his  Vessel  up  at  Sea  has  been  In  Solitary  Confinment 
for  ten  Months  and  Last  Sunday  he  Made  his  Escape  from  the 
Cashot  And  came  into  our  prison  this  Morning  Captn  Shortland 
sent  in  a  Letter  to  Imform  us  that  If  we  did  not  give  him  up 
that  he  would  stop  the  Market  and  all  Intercourse  with  the  other 

prison's  to  which  we  Refused  to  Comply  With in  the  fore 

part  of  the  day  when  the  Lamp  lighters  came  in  for  to  trim  there 
Lamps  we  Seized  them  and  took  there  Oil  from  them  and  hove 
their  Ladders  over  the  Wall — soon  after  the  Man  that  takes  the 
filth  out  of  the  Prison  Yards  Came  in  with  his  Cart  and  two 
horses  we  Imediately  Seized  him  and  turned  the  horses  out  again 
— and  then  Sent  a  letter  to  Captn  Shortland  to  Inform  him  that 
there  Should  not  be  one  Man  go  out  Side  of  the  Prison  Walls 
to  work  for  him —  Early  in  the  Afternoon  he  sent  two  hundred 
Soldiers  for  to  turn  us  into  the  prisons  they  Were  drawn  up  in 
a  Line  with  Loaded  Musquets  and  done  there  best  for  to  get  us 
in  but  all  In  vain  they  then  Received  a  Reinforcment  of  four 
hundred  More  and  drove  us  round  the  Prison's  three  or  four 
times  and  then  we  told  them  that  if  they  would  take  the  Soldiers 
up  to  the  gate  and  for  to  order  arms  and  then  we  would  go  in 
peacably  to  which  they  Consent'd  and  after  they  had  drawn  there 
Soldiers  away  from  the  Prison  doors,  we  had  a  Reinforcment 
of  one  thousand  Men  from  our  prison  and  then  we  told  them 
that  we  would  not  go  in  until  Night  they  then  Ordered  there 
Soldiers  home  and  we  Gave  them  three  hearty  cheers  and  kept 
the  Liberty  of  the  Yard  until  Sundown  to  the  Great  Mortification 
of  the  British  officers  &  Soldier's 

On  the  fifteenth  I  past  in  writing  but  could  hear  Nothing 
from  My  Friend  Mr  Gwinn 

On  the  sixteenth  I  past  the  day  in  Company  with  Wm  Gray 
at  noon  I  received  a  Letter  from  Mr  Wm  Young  he  Inf orm's  me 
that  my  friend  Mr  Gwinn  is  little  better 


On  the  seventeenth  in  the  afternoon  I  went  for  to  see  two  of 
My  Fellow  Prisoners  flog'd  for  Stealing  they  Received  one  dozen 
each  on  there  Naked  Back 

On  the  Eighteenth  I  past  my  Morning  walk  in  Company  with 
W™  Gray  in  the  afternoon  I  was  Imformed  that  My  Friend  Mr 
Gwinn  has  not  seen  out  of  his  Eyes  this  fifteen  days  past 

On  the  Ninteenth  I  made  a  Visit  into  N°  five  Prison  in  Com- 
pany with  P  W  Finder  in  the  afternoon  we  had  a  draft  of  Eighty 
Men  arrive  here 

On  the  twentyeth  in  the  Morning  we  had  Reported  in  the 
Ncw's  papers  that  the  U  S  Frigate  President  was  Captured  In 
the  afternoon  I  Received  a  Letter  from  Mr  Young  he  Imform's 
me  that  My  friend  Mr  Gwinn  remains  much  the  same  only  he 
has  Lost  his  left  Eye,  in  the  Evening  i  past  in  writing 

On  the  twenty  first  I  past  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in  Writing 
in  the  afternoon  I  made  a  tour  through  N°  one  three  four  and 
five  Prisons 

on  the  twenty  second  at  day  light  this  Morning  We  had  the 
American  Flag  display'd  on  Each  of  the  Prisons  in  Memory  of 
the  Immortal  Washington  it  being  his  birth  day  at  noon  i  re- 
ceived the  sad  tidings  of  the  Death  of  my  Friend  Josiah  Gwinn 
Aged  twenty  two  he  died  this  Morning  at  Nine  O  clock  after  a 
Shocking  and  Painful  Sickness  of  twenty  three  days 

On  the  twenty  third  I  past  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in  Com- 
pany with  Joseph  Pitman  and  the  afternoon  in  Company  with 
John  Phippen  H  Upton  and  Mr  Eulin  of  Salem  in  the  Evening 
the  Jury  was  Called  together  for  to  try  a  Man  for  Stealing  he 
was  found  Guilty  and  Sentanced  him  to  receive  one  hundred  of 
fifty  Lashes  on  his  Naked  Back 

On  the  twenty  fourth  I  past  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in  Read- 
ing in  the  afternoon  I  was  Visited  by  Josiah  Orne  and  John  Phip- 
pen of  Salem 

On  the  twenty  fifth  in  the  Morning  I  Made  a  Tour  through 
N°  one  three  &  four  Prison's  in  Company  with  Wm  Gray  in  the 
afternoon  George  Mansfield  of  Salem  went  into  the  hospital  with 
the  Small  pox 

On  the  twenty  Sixth  it  being  on  Sunday  I  went  to  Meeting  in 
N°  four  Prison  in  the  Evening  I  past  in  Reading — Time  goes 
Tegeous. 

On  the  twenty  Seventh  I  past  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in 
Company  with  Joseph  Millet  and  Wm  Ashton 


[  33  ] 

On  the  twenty  Eighth  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day  i  past  in 
Company  with  P  W  Finder  and  the  afternoon  in  writing  so  ends 
February 

March  th[e]  1  I  past  in  Meditating  on  the  Deaths  of  so  many 
of  My  Fellow  Prisoners 

on  the  Second  at  Noon  Edward  A  Porter  Came  out  of  the 
hospital  in  the  afternoon  I  went  for  to  hear  the  Rev  Mr  Jones 
Preach  in  N°  four  Yard  he  is,  a  White  Preacher  from  Plymouth 
he  Makes  us  a  Visit  Every  thursday 

On  the  third  I  received  My  Monthly  pay  of  six  Shillings  and 
eight  pence  in  the  afternoon  we  had  one  Hundred  and  fifty  fel- 
low prisoners  added  to  our  Number  There  is  at  this  present 
time  Upwards  of  six  Thousand  Men  here 

On  the  fourth  I  past  the  day  in  writing 

On  the  fifth  in  the  forenoon  I  went  to  Meeting  in  the  after- 
noon John  Mack  of  Salem  Made  Me  a  visit  and  requested  that 
i  would  let  him  have  a  suit  of  his  Cousin's  Clothes  and  I  seeing 
that  he  was  Quite  destitute  of  Clothing  I  Let  him  have  one 
Jacket  &  Trousers  one  Shirt  and  one  pair  of  Stockings  for  which 
he  promises  Me  that  he  will  Satisfy  his  Uncle  Gwinn  on  his  Ari- 
val  in  Salem. 

On  the  Sixth  I  was  visited  by  Josiah  Orne  in  the  afternoon  i 
Made  a  tour  through  N°  one  three  four  and  five  prison's  in  Com- 
pany with  Wm  Gray 

On  the  Seventh  I  past  the  day  in  writing  in  the  afternoon  we 
had  a  draft  of  fifty  American  prisoners  Arrive  hear  part  of  the 
U  S  Brig  Syren  Crew 

On  the  Eighth  I  past  the  day  in  writing  in  the  afternoon  I 
received  a  Short  visit  from  P  W  Pinder 

On  the  Ninth  I  was  Visited  by  Josiah  Orne  In  the  Afternoon 
I  made  a  Tour  through  N°  four  Prison  in  Company  with  E  A 
Porter  and  several  other  Salem  men 

On  the  Tenth  I  past  the  day  in  writing  and  the  Evening  in 
Company  with  Wm  Ashton  and  S  Sheppard 

On  the  Eleventh  in  the  fore  noon  i  was  Visited  by  Josiah 
Orne  in  the  afternoon  i  was  visited  by  John  Phippen  we  had  the 
Accounts  in  to  day's  Paper  of  the  defeat  of  the  British  army  at 
New  Orleans 

On  the  twelfth  I  past  the  day  i  Cannot  tell  My  Readers  how 
for  the  time  goes  much  more  Tegeous  now  then  it  did  before 
we  had  the  New's  of  Peace  it  is  sixty  Nine  days  since  the  favour- 
ite Sloop  of  war  sailed  for  America  with  the  dispatches — and  no 
New's  yet 


[  24  ] 

On  the  thirteenth,  altogether  or  Charity  My  Readers  I  pre- 
sume that  some  of  you  who  never  has  been  in  Confinment  may 
suppose  that  a  prisoner  of  War  cannot  assist  a  person  in  dis- 
tress and  that  has  there  Sweet  Liberty,  but  i  will  tell  you  to  the 
Contrary  for  Last  week  one  of  the  Assistance  by  the  Name  of 
Paul  he  had  the  Care  of  a  Man  that  was  derange'd  in  the  hos- 
pital and  Last  Wednesday  he  called  Mr  Paul  to  his  bed  side 
for  to  speak  with  him  and  awhilst  they  was  a  talking  this 
devils  Bird  Stabbed  Mr  Paul  in  the  heart  and  a  Nother  young 
man  Came  to  his  assistance  was  served  the  same  but  Mr  Paul 
died  amediately  and  has  Left  a  wife  and  several  small  Children 
to  bemoan  his  sad  fait  —  and  to  day  it  was  proposed  that  we 
his  remaining  fellow  priseners  should  on  Next  tuesday  give 
the  widow  Paul  the  Money  that  should  be  laid  out  for  our  fish 
and  potatoes  which  will  amount  to  three  hundred  Dollars  and 
for  us  to  fast  on  that  day 

Mr  Paul  was  an  American  Born  but  Married  in  England 
and  his  Wife  had  followed  him  to  A  small  Town  hard  by  that 
she  Might  assist  her  husband  to  the  Necessity  of  Life 

On  the  thirteenth  in  the  fore  Noon  I  was  Visited  by  Josiah 
Orne  and  Mr  Robertson  in  the  afternoon  I  made  a  Visit  to 
P  W  Pinder  and  Joseph  Pitman 

On  the  fourteenth  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day  i  past  in  reading 
in  the  afternoon  i  made  a  Visit  to  I  Phippen  it  was  reported  this 
afternoon  that  the  Favourite  sloop  of  war  had  Arived  but  I  put 
no  confidence  in  it  as  we  have  had  such  Reports  frequently  for 
this  some  time  past  but  I  hope  that  the  time  will  soon  come  when 
I  shall  see  us  poor  Lousy  set  going  out  of  these  Iron  Gates  and 
to  Return  to  our  Native  home  and  once  more  Embrace  our 
Blessed  Liberty 

On  the  fifteenth  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day  i  past  in  reading 
in  the  afternoon  i  was  visited  by  Joseph  Pitman  who  requested 
that  I  would  lend  him  a  Little  Money  until  he  got  home  I  let 
him  have  four  Dollars  in  the  afternoon  we  had  the  accounts 
of  the  Favourite  sloop  of  war  arriving  with  dispatches  from 
America  the  Contents  is  not  yet  made  known 

On  the  sixteenth  we  had  the  American  Flag  display'd  at 
sun  rise  it  was  on  this  Blessed  morning  that  we  had  the  news 
of  peace  for  a  Certainty  and  in  the  evening  we  had  the  prison's 
Illuminated  for  the  Glorious  News  that  we  have  Received 

On  the  seventeenth  i  was  as  ill  Natured  as  the  devil  all  day 
with  the  worst  of  pain  Called  the  tooth  Ache  but  wrongly 
Named 


On  the  Eighteenth  in  the  fore  part  of  day  i  was  visited  by 
Sam1  Green  in  the  afternoon  i  made  a  visit  into  N°  three  prison 
to  P  W  Finder  in  Company  with  Joseph  Pitman  this  morning 
we  dispatched  a  Letter  of  to  London  to  Mr  Beasly  the  Agent 
for  American  Prisoners  for  to  Inform  him  that  it  was  Peace 
between  the  United  States  &  Great  Briton 

On  the  Ninteenth  in  the  fore  noon  i  was  Visited  by  Mr 
Samuel  Cook  who  Requested  that  I  would  let  him  have  one 
Guinea  until  his  arrival  at  home  to  which  I  Generously  Did 
knowing  that  he  was  in  want  of  it  in  the  Evening  we  went  to 
bed  soon  as  I  was  up  until  daylight  this  Morning  in  Company 
with  Isreal  phippen  on  Buisinize  of  Importance 

On  the  twentyeth  I  was  taken  very  ill  and  was  Obliedged 
for  to  take  to  my  bed,  at  Noon  Mr  I  Phippen  prepar'd  a  pot  of 
strong  wormwood  Tea  and  Insisted  of  my  taking  it  and  in  the 
Evening  prepared  Me  the  Second  dose  this  afternoon  there  was 
forty  Men  Called  out  for  to  go  to  France  for  to  Join  some 
American  ships 

On  the  twenty  first  i  turned  out  inflicted  with  the  tooth 
ache  i  went  into  the  Receiving  house  with  the  Intent  to  have 
it  taken  out,  but  not  liking  the  looks  of  the  doctors  mate  i 
turned  short  round  and  came  out  and  went  into  N°  one  prison 
and  had  three  of  my  Jaw  teeth  taken  out  by  a  fellow  prisoner 
this  Evening  i  find  myself  very  weak  having  had  no  appetite 
this  weak  past  but  i  am  in  hopes  to  wear  it  of 

On  the  twenty  second  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day  i  was 
Visited  by  Samuel  Cook  and  Wm  Ashton  at  noon  Edward  A 
Porter  Received  a  Letter  from  his  Affectionate  Mother  in 
Salem  dated  Decr  14th  Last  Evening  Wm  Story  a  ship  mate 
of  Mine  endeavoured  for  to  make  his  Escape  but  was  caught 
and  Confind  in  the  Cashot 

On  the  twenty  third  i  past  in  writing  and  was  visited  by 
several  of  my  Friends  but  could  not  Receive  them  I  find  my 
Health  restord  again 

On  the  twenty  fourth  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day  i  was 
visited  by  Samuel  Shepherd  and  Isreal  Phippen 

What  must  be  the  anxious  feelings  of  our  tender  parents 

twenty  fifth  we  have  the  accounts  in  to  day's  paper  of 
Bonaparte's  arriving  into  parris  and  King  Lewis  had  made 
his  Escape  —  at  Noon  we  had  the  Effigy  of  Mr  Beasly  hung 
and  then  Burnt  for  his  kind  attention  to  the  American  prison- 
ers of  war 


on  the  twenty  sixth  i  past  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in  Com- 
pany with  Wm  Gray  and  the  Evening  in  Company  with  S  Cook 
and*  I  phippen  On  Anxiety  of  Mind  Last  Sunday  Evening  I 
did  Certainly  expect  for  to  be  out  of  these  prisons  before  now 
but  i  am  disappointed  my  hopes  is  all  but  Exhausted  My 
patience  is  all  gone  but  alas  if  we  are  anxious  Thoughts  of  our 
parents  Friends  and  Relations 

On  the  twenty  Seventh  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day  i  past 
in  Reading  in  the  afternoon  in  Company  With  George  Felt 
and  John  Ingersoll  of  Salem 

On  the  twenty  Eighth  i  past  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in 
company  with  Wm  Gray  in  the  afternoon  I  was  Visited  by 
Josiah  Orne  and  Samuel  Cook 

On  the  twenty  Ninth  i  past  the  day  in  Reading  and  the 
Evening  in  Company  with  S  Cook  S  Shepperd  and  Mr  Eulin 
and  I  phippen 

On  the  thirtyeth  I  made  a  Tour  through  N°  one  and  three 
prison's  and  the  Evening  i  past  in  Company  with  Israel 
phippen  and  C  Gotier 

On  the  thirty  first  i  Received  A  Visit  from  J  Orne  and  Wm 
Gray  and  past  the  Evening  with  Wm  Ashton 

April  the  first  presented  it  self  with  uncommon  pleasant 
weather  in  the  fore  noon  i  Received  a  Visit  from  Mr  Henry 
Allen  who  requested  that  I  would  let  him  have  a  few  pounds  as 
all  the  Officers  of  the  privateer  that  he  was  Captured  in  was  to  be 
Detained  and  he  wished  for  to  make  his  Escape  if  possible  But  i 
could  not  make  it  Convenient  at  pressent  as  i  having  purchased 
several  prize  Tickets  in  the  private  Armed  Schoone  Herald  of 
New  York  but  i  felt  very  Sorry  that  i  could  not  assist  him  in  the 
Evening  i  past  in  Company  with  Samuel  Cook  and  S  Shepherd 

On  the  second  i  past  the  day  in  reading  &  the  evening  in 
company  with  Edward  A  Porter 

On  the  third  i  received  a  Visit  from  Mr  Josiah  Orne  and 
Peter  Washington  Finder 

On  the  fourth  this  Morning  there  was  twelve  hundred 
Letters  arived  here  from  America  Chiefly  from  Marblehead 
and  Salem  but  none  for  Myself  but  i  hope  that  it  May  please 
the  almighty  God  for  to  spare  me  that  i  may  once  more  see 
My  parents  and  know  the  reason  for  there  Slighting  me  so 
much  as  they  have  done  since  I  left  Salem 

On  the  fifth  i  past  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in  Writing  in 
the  afternoon  in  Company  with  Wm  Gray 


[27  ] 

On  the  sixth  day  of  April  as  the  prisoner  of  N°  five  and 
seven  Prisons  made  a  Small  hole  in  the  wall  near  the  Barracks 
when  Captn  Shortland  gave  Orders  for  the  Soldiers  to  fire  in 
upon  the  Unarmed  Prisoners  and  a  Dreadful  Massacree  took 
place  in  the  first  place  he  sent  the  Turnkeys  for  to  Lock  three  of 
the  doors  out  of  four  so  that  Escape  to  the  prison's  was  Impossi- 
ble and  after  we  had  got  Mostly  in  at  the  Remaining  door  and 
those  that  was  at  the  lower  ends  of  the  yard  and  knew  nothing 
of  the  Disturbance  was  mostly  killed  or  wounded — in  N°  one  and 
three  where  there  was  no  offence  given  and  without  any  provi- 
cation  they  fired  and  then  Charged  Bayonet  Many  were  killed 
and  wounded  in  this  yard  and  to  Compleat  the  scene  of  slaughter 
and  death  a  Simeler  Scein  took  place  in  N°  4  Yard  it  appears 
that  the  Blacks  were  near  the  gates  of  there  Yard  Gamboling  and 
not  Mistrusting  any  harm  when  a  dreadful  fire  from  the  top  of 
the  wall  killed  several  and  wounded  many  the  Soldiers  kept  a 
Cross  fire  upon  the  only  Remaining  door  that  we  had  open — so 
that  it  was  Impossible  for  any  to  Escape  i  have  not  yet  Received 
the  true  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded 

On  the  seventh  as  soon  as  it  was  daylight  i  went  round  for 
to  view  the  yards  i  found  a  Consider  Blood  in  our  yard  and  in 
N°  four  but  not  so  much  in  N°  one  at  10  in  the  four  noon  i  Re- 
ceived the  List  of  the  Killed  and  wounded,  but  thanks  be  to  God 
there  was  but  seven  Killed  and  fifty  wounded  and  the  Most  of 
them  has  lost  there  Legs  or  there  arms  and  several  Mortally 
wounded — I  Cannot  but  help  Remarking  the  fait  of  one  Young 
Man — after  he  was  wounded  and  Making  the  Best  of  his  way 
for  the  prison  five  of  the  British  Soldiers  came  up  with  him  and 
and  put  there  Musquets  to  his  head  and  Blow'd  his  Brains  out 
a  gainst  the  wall 

on  the  Eighth  i  was  visited  by  J  Orne  who  imforms  me  that 
there  is  a  Number  of  Prisoners  Missing  supposed  to  have  been 
Massacred  on  the  6  Ins  and  Buryed  by  the  Soldiers 

on  the  Ninth  i  was  Visited  by  J  Orne  and  G  Felt  in  the 
evening  i  past  in  Company  with  I  Phippen  and  S  Cook 

on  the  Tenth  in  the  fore  noon  i  was  Visited  by  S  Cook  and 
Wm  Ashton 

On  the  Eleventh  i  past  the  day  in  Writing  but  no  Glad  Tid- 
ings do  we  hear  yet  no  prospect  of  ever  seeing  our  native  home 
again 

on  the  twelfth  i  past  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in  Company 
with  Wm  Abbot  and  Henry  Upton  and  the  Latter  part  in  Medi- 
tating 


[  28  ] 

On  the  thirteenth  i  past  the  day  in  writing 

On  the  Fourteenth  i  past  the  day  in  Reading 

On  the  fifteenth  i  past  in  Company  with  William  Gray  and 
the  Sixteenth  it  Being  Sunday  I  past  the  day  in  Meditating  on 
our  unhappy  Situation 

On  the  Seventeeth  in  the  fore  noon  I  was  Visited  by  Josiah 
Orne  and  the  afternoon  by  Mr  Samuel  Green  and  J  Pickman  of 
Salem 

On  the  Eighteenth  I  past  in  Reading 

On  the  Nineteeth  O  happy  day  hath  though  at  length  arrived 
our  hearts  Leap  for  Joy  at  the  Glad  tidings  that  we  do  hear — 
My  Gentle  Readers  i  will  not  keep  you  in  Suspence  any  Longer 
for  the  News  that  we  are  Rejoiced  at  is  that  we  had  a  Draft  of 
two  hundred  and  fifty  Men  taken  from  us  for  to  Join  a  Cartel 
and  proceed  to  there  Native  home  and  the  Blessed  Land  of  Lib- 
erty and  once  more  Enjoy  the  Company  of  there  tender  wives 
and  Children  Parents  and  Relations  but  for  our  Sweet  Hearts 
we  can  put  no  dependence  in  them  any  Longer  than  we  are  with 
them  for  there  hearts  is  fickel  and  there  Minds  Changes  as  the 
wind. — 

On  the  twentyeth  i  past  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in  Company 
with  E  A  Porter 

On  the  twenty  first  I  past  the  day  in  writeing  and  Received 
Several  Visits  from  My  Acquaintanc  too  Numeras  to  Mention 

On  the  twenty  second  i  past  the  day  in  Sorrow  and  vexation 
and  Cursing  those  that  is  the  Cause  of  our  Confinment  at  this 
time 

On  the  twenty  third  i  past  in  Reading  Religious  Books  (at 
intervals) 

on  the  twenty  fourth  we  had  a  draft  of  four  hundred  and 
fifty  men  called  out  for  to  Join  a  Cartel — but  my  Patience  is  so 
much  Exhausted  and  My  health  in  a  declining  fast  that  i  shall 
Endeavour  for  to  purchase  a  Turn  in  the  next  Draft  that  goes 
from  here 

On  the  twenty  fifth  after  a  Night  of  Sorrow  and  Vexation 
and  never  Closing  my  Eyes  i  Got  up  and  took  my  Breakfast  and 
then  went  and  purchased  a  turn  in  the  next  Draft  which  is  to  be 
called  out  in  the  Morning 


[  29  ] 

Letters  loaned  by  Valpey  family 

Affectionate  Parents  1814 

Charleston  S  C  Feby  16 

Dear  parents  I  am  very  Sorry  to  Imform  you  that  I  am 
Oblidged  for  to  Go  on  Board  of  a  Privateer  I  was  Dischardged 
on  Monday  the  14  Ins1  and  Yesterday  I  Entered  on  Board  of 
the  Schooner  Herald  of  New  York  of  twelve  Guns  and  one 
Hundred  and  forty  Men  Joseph  Miller  Commander  Bound  on 
the  Coast  of  England  for  a  fore  Months  Cruise  I  have  all  My 
Wafges]  Exchanged  into  Gold  and  put  Safe  around  My  Neck 
and  if  I  Should  Lose  My  Head  My  Money  goes  with  it 

williams  abbot  and  Willis  Left  this  port  Last  Evening 

for  the  Northward  Expecting  for  to  Reach  Boston  and  with 
Me  there  is  Gwinn —  Lambert  and  Gray  and  Bertram  of  Salem 
I  have  a  Good  Station  on  Board  and  I  Shall  Go  on  Board 
this  Evening  and  Sail  the  first  Wind  So  Give  My  Love  to 
Brothers  and  Sisters  and  Enquiring  Frinds 

Yours  &c 

Joseph  Valpey  Jr. 


Halifax  Prison  August  **•  27 

1814 
Melvill  Island 

Affectionate  Parents 

I  Embrace  this  Oppertunity  by  writing  a  few  Lines  to 
imform  you  of  My  safe  Arival  we  was  Captured  on  the  15th 
by  the  Frigates  Armied  &  Endymion  after  being  at  Sea  Six 
Months  from  Charleston  during  the  Cruise  we  Captured  ten 
Sail  seven  we  man'd  out  and  three  we  Burnt  I  have  been 
Imformed  that  there  is  two  Arrived  Safe  into  America  but  I 
shall  Make  My  Self  Contented  until  I  have  the  Pleasure  of 
Seeing  You  and  Family  Last  Monday  there  was  a  Number  of 
Hundred  American  Prisoners  Sent  to  England  there  is  Now 
five  Hundred  and  fifty  Prisoners  here  and  I  have  not  the 


[  30  ] 

Least  thoughts  of  being  at  Home  until  the  Next  Fall  our 

Provisions  here  is  as  Good  as  a  Prisoner  Can  Expect 

I  have  Heard  of  the  Death  of  My  Brother  Samuel*  by  William 
Edwards  of  Salem  but  I  Cannot  Hear  from  you  nor  have  Not 
since  I  Left  you  I  have  been  Imformed  Williams  and  Abbot 
did  Get  Safe  home  so  Remember  my  Respects  to  my  Brother 

and  Sister  and  all  Enquiring  Friends 

So  I  Remain  yours  &c  More 

Joseph  Valpey  Jr. 
P  S  Be  sure  and  Write  if  you  have  an  Oppertunity 


'Samuel  Valpey  served  on  the  frigate,  Constitution.  On  her  return  from  the 
victorious  summer  voyage  of  1813,  he  was  drafted  for  service  on  the  Great  Lake* 
where  bt  died. 


[  31  ] 

FROM  DEATH8  AREST  NO  AGE  IS  FREE* 
[DRAWING] 

Sacred 
to 

THE 

memory 
of 

WILLIAM  PHIPPEN 

He  sailed  from  Salem  March  13th  and  whas  Drowned  the  18th 
A.  D.  1823.  from  on  board  of  the  Schooner  Union,  James  Harvey 
Master,  Bound  to  the  West  Indias. 


Done  by  George  Valpey  Sunday  May  3d  1824.' 


Sacred 

to  the  Memory  of 

Josiah  Gwinn  who  Died  at 

Dartmoor  Prison  England 

on  the  22  of  Febr  1815  A  E  22 

[DRAWING]! 


SACRED 
to  the  Memory  of 

Daniel  Very  who  died  at  Dartmoor  Prison  England 
on  the  24  of  January  1815 

also 

Mr  Daniel  Archer  who  died  at 

Dartmoor  Prison  England  on  the  14 

of  January  1815 


'Pasted  on  the  first  recto  following  the  Journal.  The  drawing  is  of  a  funtral 
urn  bearing  the  initials,  W.  P.,  beside  which  is  a  weeping  female  figure.  George 
Valpey  was  a  brother  of  Joseph  Valpey,  Jr 

f  A  crude  water  color  sketch  of  a  hill  at  the  foot  of  which  is  a  grave  with  skull 
and  cross-bones. 


of  Dartmore  Prison 


of  dartmore  prison  I'll  tel  all  I  can 
Describe  the  condition  of  ten  thousand  men 
there  manner  of  pastime  and  how  they  all  are 
discribe  these  fine  Buildings  and  how  we  all  fare 

2 

on  top  of  a  mountain  those  prisons  does  stand 
A  place  pich*  on  purpose  for  tormenting  man 
Where  Frenchmen  and  yankey's  together  must  stay 
Until  the  war's  o'er  or  else  run  away 


our  manner  of  Living  depend's  very  bad 

Not  Grub  half  enough  every  Countanance  sad 

Nor  clothing  sufficient  to  cover  our  skin 

And  no  more  Indulgence  we  get  from  the  King 


Our  manner  of  pastime  its  hard  to  Explain 
But  Keeno  and  dice  is  our  principal  game 
While  some  set  at  drinking  together  they  sing 
Bad  luck  to  the  prison  short  life  to  the  King 


Now  place  all  together  of  what  I  relate 
And  had  I  not  Reason's  for  to  god  dam'n  my  fate 
But  I  bear  it  with  patience  and  cheerfully  sing 
Long  life  to  our  President  and  a  curse  on  the  King 


[  33  ] 
The  Fruits  of  Gambling's 


Come  fellow  prisoner's  one  and  all 
To  reason  lend  an  ear 
To  keep  up  Gambling  as  you  do 
Your  ruin'd  men  its  Clear 


For  reason  first  should  Beasly*  hear 
How  we  this  money  use'd 
Hed  say  the  prisoner's  was  to  Blame 
they  that  the  states  abusd< 

3 

The  money  that's  sent  was  for  intent 
To  help  us  in  this  place 
Instead  of  which  you  all  must  see 
It  clothes  you  in  disgrace 

*the  Agent  for  Prisoner's 


For  should  you  ask  for  any  more 
as  each  man  ought  to  do 
Then  would  your  Injured  Country  say 
No  money  more  for  you 


For  reason  why  when  i  advance 
To  you  this  trifling  sum 
You  keep  up  gambling  Night  and  day 
Which  hurts  you  every  one 

6 

Yet  a  few  it  help's — a  little  while 
But  mark  his  Latter  end 
His  Bank  get's  broke,  his  dunnage  sold 
This  Man's  without  a  Friend 


[  34  ] 

7 

Then  stealing  next  is  there  intent 
Which  often  time's  you  see 
Then  be  seized  up  like  any  dog 
And  flogged  he  must  be 

8 

This  story's  told  when  he  gets  home 
Unto  his  Friend's  or  wife 
This  man's  dispised  by  them — he  Loved 
Therefore  he  cannot  value  Life 

9 

To  now  avoid  those  Ill's  i'v  stated 
From  Gambling  now  refrain 
Then  you'll  be  helped  and  Respected 
Should  you  ever  get  home  again 


The  author  on  Viewing  his  fellow  prisoners  hunting 
for  Lice  and  Fleas  Composed  the  following 

1 

In  Yallow  dress  from  head  to  foot 
Just  like  a  swarm  of  Bee's 
From  Morn  to  Night  you'll  see  a  sight 
of  Hunting  lice  and  flea's 

2 

They  skip  and  crawl  most  ravingly 
And  pass  from  man  to  man 
If  they  could  speak — you'd  hear  them  say 
Now  catch  me  if  you  can 

3 

The  other  Morn  as  I  walked  out 
To  take  the  pleasant  Air 
I  saw  a  Louse  whose  Magnitude 
With  Horror  he  made  me  stare 

4 

Old  Trafalgar  he  pind  him  fast 
And  killed  him  for  the  Crime 
Saying  Yesterday  was  your's  my  Louse 
But  now  the  day  is  Mine 


[35  ] 

Suicide 

Last  Evening  John  Taylor  the  son  of  Capt  John  Taylor  of 
New  York  hung  himself  in  Number  five  prison * 


A  Song 

From  court  to  clown  from  beau*  to  Clown 
I  dare  say  each  one  know's  it 
Our  Grub's  too  small  for  one  and  all 
And  our  Yankey  face's  show  it. 

Chorus 

Yankey  dudle  dudle  due 
Yankey  dodle  dandy, 
Wer  place'd  upon  a  swindging  mount 
And  to  the  Moon  Quite  Handy 

2 

Wer  placd  upon  a  Mountain  top 
Next  Neighbours  to  the  Moon  sir 
We  Yankey  tars  next  to  the  Stars 
Expect  to  get  there  soon  sir 

3 

Then  wed  Learn  luner's  perfect  head 
And  assertain  the  true  distance 
Should  British  tar's  come  to  the  stars 
We'll  give  them  no  Assistance 

4 

Should  we  be  ordered  down  again 
And  to  a  Cartel  going 
Then  folk's  would  stare  i  do  declair 
And  say  the  Lad's  look's  knowing 

5 

Then  we  shall  tell  them  that  we  do 
Because  we  have  lived  high  sir 
Had  you  been  there  I  do  declare 
A  chance  but  you  would  have  died 


*Cf.  The  Prisoners'  memoirs,  by  Charles  Andrews,  1S62  ed.   (pp.  73-78). 


[  36  ] 

6 

For  cold  and  hungry — Naked  too 
Each  tar  was  all  but  Dying 
'till  Ruben  Beasly  'tother  day 
He  thought  hed  stop  our  Crying 

7 

But  if  our  Congress  hear's  the  fact 
Of  our  great  mighty  Income 
Then  they  will  stare  all  with  dispair 
And  say  it  was  a  too  small  sum 

8 

Then  they'll  curse  Beasly  in  a  Clinch 
And  call  him  a  dam'n  Villen 
I'd  do  so  too  and  so  ought  you 
For  it  ought  to  have  been  one  Shilling 

9 

However  lads  we'll  see  it  out 
Three  Coppers  come's  quite  handy  O 
They'll  get  a  pint  of  Beer  my  Boy's 
For  Yankey  dudle  dandy  O 


Where  smiling  peace  and  plenty  dwell 
And  health  with  Jocund  glee 
No  Conjuror  one  would  think  could  tell 
Why  war's  and  strife  could  be 

Valpey 


A  Song 


A  dew  to  the  shore's  of  Columbia 

Though  distant I  still  you  adore 

My  prospect  at  present  looks  gloomy 
And  I  fear  i  shall  see  you  no  more 


[  37  ] 

2 

My  fortitude  its  all  but  Exhausted 
I  sigh  and  Lement  but's  in  vain 
My  Country  i  fear  has  forgot  me 
And  i  doubt  if  I  see  you  again 

3 

Twelve  Month's  now  IV  Languish'd  in  prison 
Each  moment  seem'd  a  twelve  month  for  me 
Columbia  awake  from  your  Slumber's 
We  prisoner's  are  awaiting  for  thee 

4 

Expecting  each  day  some  glad  tiding 
But  nothing  alas  do  we  hear 
To  languish  and  die  in  this  prison 
Is  my  doom  from  above  i  much  fear 

5 

Fond  hope's  keep's  me  still  in  Existence 
But  misery  makes  me  dispair 
Oh  Heaven's  pray  issue  an  order 
And  say  to  the  states  now  tell  us  prepare 

6 

Oh  Bless1  be  that  day  should  it  happen 
My  soul  in  what  raptures  would  be 
I'd  fly  with  the  wing's  of  Impatience 
Till  Columbia  i  landed  on  thee. 


[Here  is  copied  "An  Oration  delivered  on  the  Fourth  of  July  1814  on 
Board  of  the  Nassau  prison  ship  by  an  American  Prisoner  of  War" 
which  has  already  been  printed  in  A  Journal  of  a  young  man  of  Massa- 
chusetts by  Benjamin  Waterhouse,  2d  ed.,  1816  (pp.  121-123).  It  is  fol- 
lowed by  a  copy  of  a  "Poem  wrote  by  Thomas  Sturtevant  Junr  of  the 
25  Regim*  of  the  United  States  Infantry  during  his  imprisonment  at 
Melville's  [Island]  Nova  Scotia  in  1813."  This  has  been  printed  in  The 
Diary  of  Benjamin  F.  Palmer,  privateersman,  published  by  the  Acorn 
Club,  1914  (pp.  227-239).] 


[  38  ] 

New  Year  Song 
Dartmore  Prison  January  th  1  1815 

The  new  year  commences  and  nature  sweet  smiling 

Salutes  the  blith  nymph  and  the  braw  rustic  swain 

With  prospects  of  pleasure  the  moments  beguiling 

And  still  the  bound  prisoner  must  unnoticed  Remain 

While  round  the  rich  Table  the  wine  bumper's  flowing 

Enliven's  each  guest  with  new  graces  adorning 

While  hope  cheer's  the  bosom  with  raptures  all  glowing 

The  war  broken  sailor  and  soldier  must  mourn 

Behold  the  gay  ball  room  adorn'd  with  mock  Roses 

Where  Venus  presiding  bear's  absolute  sway 

Where  love  her  ten  Thousand  allurments  diffuses 

Where  hosts  of  young  cupids  incessantly  play 

Where  Notes  of  sweet  music  hail  Cyntha  arisen 

And  Hearts  all  Enchanted  with  tenderness  burn 

Shut  out  from  enjoyments  Lock'd  up  in  a  prison 

The  war  Broken  Sailor  and  Soldier  must  mourn 

How  fortune  delusive  her  favour's  disperses 

How  vain  our  fond  hope's  of  her  Bounty  Appear's 

While  Thousand's  enjoy  her  new  sorrow  Commence's 

And  naked  and  needy  we  hail  the  new  Year 

O  soon  may  sweet  peace  her  mild  lucid  Blessing 

O  soon  may  the  morn  of  Freedom  return 

Hail  Freedom  and  peace  Joy's  alone  worth  possessing 

O  Come  and  the  Prisoner  no  longer  shall  mourn 


Love 

Dearest  Eliza  what  is  Love?  a  dream 

A  passion  often  unrequested 

An  idle  poets  lilting  theme 

A  thing  with  which  we  are  delighted 


[  39  ] 

A  Song 

Compos'd  by  Thomas  Sturtevant  Junr 
Whilst  a  prisoner  in  Quebec  August  1813* 

1th 

Adieu  dear  land  where  first  I  drew 
The  sweets  of  Bliss  surrounding 
Where  neither  pain  nor  Grief  I  new 
But  alway's  peace  Abounding 
With  eager  wish  those  Groves  I  Trace 
And  bar'd  from  there  Returning 
And  sigh  to  meet  that  Lovely  face 
For  which  each  hour  I'm  burning 

gtb 

Green  be  thy  plain's  Columbia  dear 
And  Green  thy  Lofty  Mountain's 
Sweet  roses  every  Valey  cheer 
Where  glow's  the  purling  Fountain's 
While  worn  with  Grief  my  heart  endure  [s] 
Sharp  pang's  and  wild  Commotion 
And  till  dispair  each  hope  obscure  [s] 
As  tempests  cloud's  the  Ocean 

3th 

Dear  to  my  soul  are  those  lov'd  form 
For  which  each  hour  I'm  sighing 
No  healing  balm  my  Bosom  cheer's 
Or  save's  my  hope  from  dying 
Dear  Lydia  still  my  heart  is  your's 
Tho'  distance  doth  devide  us 
On  you  dear  girl  while  life  endur's 
I  will  doat  tho'  Ill's  betide  us 
A  prisoner  poor  cut  of  in  fight 
Confin'd  from  all  enjoyment 
Doom'd  through  each  dismal  day  and  night 
And  live  without  employment 
On  Board  a  ship  Moor'd  off  Quebec 
By  Centinals  Surrounded 
My  home  My  Bed  the  prison  deck 
My  heart  with  anguish  wounded 

*Cf.     The  Diary  of  Benjamin  F.  Palmer,  private  ersman,  1914   (pp.   267-868,   M«), 


[  40  ] 

5th 

But  soon  I  hope  for  sweet  release 

In  realm's  of  splendid  Glory 

In  scene's  of  Love  in  Bowers  of  peace 

Where  glow's  the  blest  aurora 

There  i  shall  meet  my  kindred  friends 

And  gain  Immortal  Treasure 

Where  war  Terrific  never  end's 

In  Interrupted  pleasure 


A  Poem 

Composed  by  Joseph  Valpey  Junr  during  his 
Imprisonment  at  Dartmoor  in  1814 

Come  young  people  and  now  attend 

To  what  i'm  going  to  write 

Its  to  your  lives  i'd  have  you  amend 

And  not  your  Creator  for  to  slight 

And  yet  so  long  he  has  spared  me 

For  to  live  in  this  vain  world 

And  tossed  up  both  too  and  fro 

And  through  this  life  for  to  be  hurld 

Its  i  myself  a  prisoner  Lay 

Confin'd  in  a  prison  strong 

From  friends  and  Relation's  far  away 

I  was  forced  wither  right  or  wrong 

And  it  was  there  i  lay  bewailing 

On  my  unhappy  state 

With  many  a  bitter  ailing 

Yet  no  remedy  could  make 

At  dark  when  i  to  my  bed  did  go 

For  to  pass  the  tegeous  Night 

I  would  lay  and  think  with  bitter  woe 

How  i  did  my  Maker  slight 


[  41  ] 

As  I  one  Morn  was  walking 
For  to  take  the  pleasant  air 
Two  young  men  i  heard  a  talking 
It  made  me  stop  and  for  to  stare 
They  were  talking  of  a  Lovly  Bloom 
Who  in  salem  town  did  dwell 
Who  by  cold  Death  was  call'd  to  the  Tomb 
It  appeard  to  shopk  them  as  they  it  told 
I  stepped  up  unto  them 
For  to  ask  who  this  might  be 
They  told  me  it  was  the  lovly  Hannah 
That  good  and  lovly  she 
Ah  is  the  lovly  Maiden  gone 
So  soon  after  i  left  My  home 
I  left  her  in  the  bloom  of  Life 
For  to  struggle  through  this  world  of  strife 
O  happy  Maid  thrice  happy  be 
How  soon  after  we  shall  follow  thee 
We  no  not  when  nor  how  soon 
We  shall  be  called  to  the  silent  Tomb 
Fathers  Mothers  Sisters  too 
Brothers  and  Relations  has  bade  us  adue 
And  there  they  must  lay  with  Closed  eyes 
Until  the  Lord  bids  them  arise 
Now  i  hope  by  this  you  may  warning  take 
And  no  more  Sabbath  day's  to  Break 
That  we  may  all  in  tune  be  found 
Like  David's  harp  of  solemn  sound 
Now  May  the  Lord  some  pity  take 
On  us  poor  prisoner's  in  this  state 
And  move  us  to  the  happy  shore 
And  live  in  peace  forever  more 
Now  i  think  its  time  to  end  my  song 
....  light  is  out  and  darkness  comes  on 
....  that  soon  some  pleasure  may  find 
....  the  race  of  humane  kind 
Finis 


The  Old  Woman 

Returning  home  the  other  night  later  than  Usual  I  found  an  old 
woman  at  a  door  where  she  Seemed  Unable  to  gain  admittance — 
Madam  said  I — May  I  ask  the  reason  of  your  Coming  home  so 
Late — I  have  been  to  take  Care  of  a  Sick  person  but  as  I  have 
Already  been  up  two  nights  they  are  afraid. .  .shall  fall  asleep 
and  sent  me  a  way  —  ...  have  let  you  sleep  in  the  house  where 
you  Was  Employd  —  I  feared  that  I  should  .  . .  Troublesome,  at 
my  age  sir  we  are  not  . . .  but  in  Cases  of  the  Most  Urgent  Need 
.  . .  Old  Woman  had  Just  Quitted  . . .  You  here  Yet  —  Cried  he, 
your  . . .  You  again,  I  beg  you  will  return  . . .  Woman  returned, 
I  saw  that  she. .  .destitute  of  information  —  She  was  highly. . . 
That  the  sick  person  had  sent  for  her  again  I  went  with  her  in 

order  to  have  a  little  more  talk  with  . . .  Women  said  she 

to  me  are  Men's  Nurses  . . .   They  are  often  praised  but 

never  Sufficiently  Valued  When  a  Man  See's  a  Woman  what 

ought  he  t...    In  her his   Nurse  his  Guardian 

his  Mistress  his  Wife his  Unceasing  Friend 

his  Co tenderness  but  in  Woman  . . .  but  in  old 

Woman Young  . . .  stantly  occupied  in  taking  Care  of  ... 

—  but  as  for  Me  when  I  am  Employd  . .  .the  sick  I  have  an  Eye 
to  Every  thing  . . .  fear  that  the  want  of  Sleep  will  weigh  My 
Eyelids  down  Make  Me  become  pale  or  Even  Indispos'd,  A  sick 

person  never  Constrains  him  self  with  an  old  Woman  

I  felt  that  this  woman  knew  Exceedingly  well  The  Utility  of  her 
age,  still  the  door  was  Unopend  ...  I  knocked  but  no  Answer  was 

Made  —  at  th that  the  ...  in  distress  —  the  being  that 

gave  him  his  first  Life  —  that  afforded  him  his  first  food  —  who 
is  the  Creator  and  prompter  of  every  pleasure  he  Enjoys  during 
his  Life  —  and  who's  tender  attention  can  alleviate  the  dreadfull 

pang's  of  approaching  dissolution Young  she  is  beautiful  — 

old  she  is  Good  —  ...  one  greatf  ul  word  overpay's  her  —  Old 
Women  are  fitt  for  a  Number  of  things  that  Young  one's  are 
Incapable  of  performing  —  Either  from  Ignorance  or  Because 
they  will  not  take  the  trouble  —  I  wish  that  Society  knew  better 
how  to  Value  and  Re Good  old  Lady's 


[  43  ] 

American  Tar* 

Composd  in  dartmoor  Prison  England 

1th 

You  son's  of  Columbia  that  now  ploughs  the  Ocean 
Come  listen  a  while  and  i'll  sing  you  a  Song 
Concerning  the  Eagle  the  American  Standard 
And  Composed  by  a  Sailor  in  a  prison  so  Strong 

gtb 

In  dartmoor  prison  you  son's  of  Commotion 
[I  f]ear  we  are  all  doomed  to  the  horror's  of  war 
[Bu]t  our  prowd  Bird  the  Eagle  is  sweeping  the  Ocean 
And  claiming  the  rights  of  American  tars 

9 

[Our]  Eagle  at  home  in  the  forest  sat  Amusing 
With  her  eyes  like  the  hawk  she  discovered  afar 
It  was  the  British  proud  nation  to  drive  from  the  Ocean 
the  Sons  of  Columbia  the  American  tar 

4 

so  when  she  took  wing  on  the  sea  Coast  a  hovering 
her  Eyes  full  of  vengence  and  Bright  as  the  Stars 
She  said  to  her  heroes  Commanding  her  Navy 
Go  —  defind  all  the  rights  of  American  Tar's 

5 

On  the  salt  briney  ocean  our  Eagle  is  a  hovering 
Directed  by  Neptune  Assisted  by  Mars 
Our  Brave  Constitution  with  fix't  Ressolution 
Commenc'd  all  the  rights  of  American  tars 

6 

Our  banners  displayd  on  the  ocean  are  flying 
Decator  and  Hull  wear  the  Stripes  and  the  Stars 
When  the  Battle  of  Champlain  was  won  by  McDonald 
then  England  acknowledged  the  American  tars 

7 

our  Peacock  and  wasp  are  attached  to  the  Eagle 
With  Death  in  there  Mouths  breath  Distress  afar 
While  the  Reindeer  and  avon  are  sent  to  old  davy 
Must  acknowledg  the  valour  of  American  tars 


*Cf.     The  Dairy  of  Benjamin  F.  Palmer,  private ersman,  1914    (pp.   109-870). 


[  44  ] 

8 

but  our  seamen  Empressed  in  a  Prison  they  are  [dying] 
Saying  beat  foe's  from  our  Coast  drive  your  Enemies  afar 
You  ave  ever  Established  for  the  American  tar 

9 

but  our  bull  dog's  are  Loose  and  roaring  like  Thunder 
Destruction  and  Vengence  flies  under  those  stars 
So  give  up  those  Seamen  that  you  have  Impressed 
And  say  you  have  Injured  the  American  Tars 


The  Disconsolate  Sailor 

1 

When  my  Money  was  all  gone  that  i  gaind  in  the  wars 
and  the  world  'gan  to  frown  on  my  fate 
What  matter'd  my  Zeal  or  my  honoured  Scar's 
when  indifference  stood  at  each  Gate 

2 

the  face  that  would  smile  when  my  purse  was  well  lind 
Shew'd  a  different  Aspect  to  Me 
and  when  that  i  could  nought  but  Ingratitude  find 
I  hi'd  once  again  to  the  Sea 

3 

I  thought  it  unwise  to  repine  at  My  Lot 
or  to  bear  the  Cold  looks  on  the  Shore 
So  I  pack'd  up  the  trifling  remains  I'd  got 
And  a  trifling  alas  was  my  Store 

4 

a  handkerchief  held  all  the  treasures  i  had 
Which  over  My  Shoulder  i  threw 
Away  then  I  trudg'd  with  a  heart  rather  sad 
to  Join  some  Jolly  Ship's  Crew 

5 

the  Sea  was  less  troubled  by  far  then  My  Mind 
for  when  the  wide  Main  I  Survey'd 
I  could  not  helping  the  world  was  unkind 
And  fortune  a  Slippery  Jade 


[  45  ] 

6 

And  i  vowed  if  once  more  i  could  take  her  in  tow 
I'd  let  the  ungreatful  one  see 

that  the  turbulent  winds  and  the  billows  could  show 
More  kindness  than  they  did  to  ME 


By  Joseph  Valpey  Junr  During  His  Imprisonment 
At  Dartmoor,  Devenshire,  England  March  4he  10 — 1815 

1 

I  tel  thee  sweet  Girl  could  I  time  retrieve 

and  could  again  begin  to  Love  and  Live 

to  you  i  would  My  earlyest  off-rings  give 

I  know  my  Eye's  would  Lead  my  heart  to  you 

And  I  should  all  my  oaths  and  vows  renew 

And  to  be  plain  I  never  would  be  true 

2 

For  by  our  weak  and  weary  truth  i  find 
Love  hates  to  center  in  a  point  assignd 
But  run's  with  Joy  the  Circle  of  the  Mind 
Then  never  let  us  chain  what  should  be  free 
But  for  relief  either  sex  agree 
But  women  loves  to  Change  and  so  do  we 


A  Song  by  the  Same 

1 

I've  known  what  'tis  to  face  a  foe 
Where  death  has  laid  his  hundred's  Low 
What  'tis  fatigues  to  undergo 

that  might  appall  our  Nature 
Yet  never  was  a  truth  more  clear 
that  man's  in  danger  —  Least  in  fear 
Who's  heart  can  shed  a  generous  tear 

to  relieve  a  fellow  prisoner 


[  46  ] 

2 

I've  seen  stout  hearts  of  whom  one  wave 
has  in  a  moment  made  a  Grave 
Who's  lives  not  all  the  World  Could  save 

then  things  affect  our  Nature 
But  not  so  much  as  when  the  heart 
Some  ray  of  Comfort  to  Impart 
Swells  up  a  generous  tear  to  Start 

to  relieve  a  fellow  prisoner 


A  Song 

the  Author  when  he  was  Expecting  daly  for  to  get 
Released  from  his  Imprisonment  Compos'd  the  following 

J  Valpey  Jr 

The  heavy  hour  is  almost  past 
That  part  my  Love  and  Me 
My  Longing  eyes  may  hope  at  Last 
There  only  hope  to  see 

But  how  my  Lydia  will  you  meet 
The  man  you've  Lost  so  long 
Will  love  in  all  your  pulses  beat 
And  tremble  on  your  Tongue 

Will  you  in  Every  Look  declair 
Your  heart  is  still  the  same 
And  heal  each  Idle  anxious  care 
Our  fears  in  absence  fraim 

Thus  Lydia  thus  i  paint  the  scene 
When  shortly  we  shall  meet 
And  try  what  yet  remain's  between 
Of  Loit'ring  time  to  Cheat 

But  if  the  dream  that  sooths  my  mind 
Shall  false  and  Groundless  prove 
If  I  am  doom'd  at  Length  to  find 
You  have  forgot  to  Love 


[  47  ] 

AH  i  of  Venus  ask  is  this 
No  more  to  Let  us  Join 
But  grant  me  here  the  flattering  Bliss 
To  live  and  think  you  no  more  mine 
Finis 


The  Sharks  of  Dartmoor 

Compos'd  by  a  American  prisoner  of  War  in 
Dartmoor  Prison  England  March  th  15  —  1815 


Come  all  ye  fellow  prisoner's  attend  to  what  i  say 
the  Presidents  Ratification  arrived  Yesterday 
Prepare  yourselves  for  Marching  to  Prison  bid  adieu 
To  shortland  and  his  Turnkey's  and  all  his  cursed  crew 

2 

We'll  bid  adieu  to  dartmoor  there  Potatoes  Coal  and  Turf 
There  barley  Bread  and  Turnips  and  dam'n  Doctors  stuff 
There  codfish  and  herrin  no  more  of  that  we'll  use 
But  leave  it  behind  for  Doctors  clerks  Turnkey's  &  Jews 

3 

We  have  done  with  your  Messing  out'  or  will  have  very  soon 
The  prison  then  you  may  inspect  three  time's  in  the  forenoon 
Your  Marketing  then  you  may  stop  your  Porter  and  small  Beer 
And  your  Poison  Rum  and  Viteral  that  has  killed  hundred's  here 

4 

Grant  us  but  one  small  favour  then  before  that  we  do  part 
Do  not  discharge  the  Turnkey's  but  use  them  in  your  cart 
The  Doctors  too  you  will  also  keep  the  prison's  for  to  Clean 
And  have  then  all  in  readiness  for  Spaniards  French  or  Dean's 


[48  ] 

5 

Your  doctors  you  can  well  Employ  as  you  shall  Quickly  find 
In  washing  of  the  Lousy  bed  and  beding  left  behind 
The  turnkey's  Louse  the  Blankets'  the  hammocks  next  unsling 
The  clerks  shall  mark  tham  all  a  new'  when  turnkey's  home  do 
bring 


Ye  cursed  tribe  of  dartmoor  attention  pray  now  give 

You  know  when  Yankey  Tar's  are  gone  you  Cannot  cannot  live 

for  Murder  then  you  will  commit  and  robberies  also 

Until  like  Convict's  you  are  sent  to  Botany  bay  must  go 

7 

Make  no  delay  but  send  us  of  I  tell  you  for  your  good 
That  we  may  once  return  again  and  Bring  you  back  some  food 
Not  you  alone  but  many  to  keep'  you  from  a  Starvation 
for  Yankey's  they  have  allway's  fed  your  proud  Infernal  Nation 

8 

Our  President  has  sent  for  us'  so  do  not  us  detain 
For  fear  that  he  should  war  declare  &  Your  honour  blast  again 
Do  not  Blockade  the  ports  of  France  of  Holland  or  of  Spain 
For  fear  the  Wasp  and  Constitution  should  visit  you  again 

9 

I  pray  you'll  give  attention  and  strive  to  learn  my  song 
as  it  will  be  of  use  to  you  when  Yankey  tars  are  gone 
It  will  remind  you  of  your  Living  the  like  you  ne'er  had  before 
Nor  never  will  again  till  we  return  to  Dartmoor 

10 

No  never  then  shall  we  return'  itts  mark  now  what  I  say 
Until  Columbia  flag  no  more  shall  triumph  on  the  sea's 
But  until  then  free  Trade'  and  Sailors  righth  shall  wear 
And  our  Gallant  Independence  the  saucy  flag  shall  Bear 

11 

I  hope  that  you  will  attend  on  some  appointed  day 
And  pay  respect  to  Yankey's  before  we  go  away 
You  know  it  your  duty  you  cannot  well  deny 
So  mind  and  pull  your  hats  off  when  Yankey's  shall  pass  [by] 


[  49  ] 


Fare  well  you  sharks  of  dartmoor  the  day  at  length  arrives 
Behold  the  Yankey's  marching  with  tears  all  in  your  eyes 
Adieu  my  loving  Countrymen  that  behind  the  wall's  do  lay 
But  your  scotch  and  Irish  Doctors  no  more  of  us  shall  slay 

13 

The  happy  day  will  soon  arive  to  sail  for  Freedoms  shore 
With  six  thousand  hearty  fellow's  I  think  there  is  no  more 
The  high  Lands  of  Neversink  they  now  appear  in  sight 
The  Narrow's  next  we  pass'  where  we  Anchor  for  all  Night 

14 

Next  morning  we'll  get  under  way  and  next  our  Yards  do  man 
.  .  .  Cheer  those  sons  of  Liberty  before  that  we  do  land 
[Th]en  free  Trade  and  Sailors  then  every  Tongue  shall  cry 
[Whjile  at  our  foremast  head  the  very  flag  shall  wear 

(Finis) 


Sacred  to  the  Memory  of  Josiah  Gwinn 

Go  spotless  honour  and  unsullied  Truth 
Go  smilling  Inocence  and  Blooming  youth 
Go  Male  sweetness  Join'd  in  Manly  sence 
Go  winning  wit  that  never  gave  offence 
Go  soft  humanity  that  Blest  the  poor 
Go  saint  eye'd  patience  from  afflicktions  door 
Go  Modesty  which  never  gave  a  frown 
Go  Virtue  and  receive  thy  heavenly  Crown 
Not  from  a  stranger  came  this  heart  felt  verse 
Thy  Friend  inscribes  thy  Tomb  Where  tears 
Bedewd  thy  hearse 

by  Joseph  Valpey  Jur 


[  50  ] 

British  Massacre* 

the  following  is  a  list  of  the  Men  who  were  so  Inhumanly  Mur- 
dered on  the  ever  to  be  Remembered  th6  day  of  April  1815 


KILLED 
Prisons 
N°  1        John  Mann 

N°  4        John  Haywood 
Thomas  Jackson 

N°  5        John  Washington 
William  Leverige 
Joseph  Johnson 
George  Cambell 


WOUNDED 

N°  1        John  Gray  left  arm  amputated 
John  Ogleby  in  the  left  hip 
Stephen  Phillips  Left  thy  and  Belly 

N°  3        Edward  Gardner  in  the  wrist 

James  Bell  in  the  wrist  and  thy 
Phillip  Ford  in  the  side  Brest  and  arm 
James  Trumbull  left  arm  Amputated 
Edward  Whittlebank  in  the  Back 
William  Blake  several  places  in  the  Body 
Caleb  Codders  two  places  in  the  leg 
Thomas  Smith  left  leg  amputated 

N°  4        John  Robberts  in  the  Thigh 
Peter  Wilson  in  the  hand 
James  Isreal  in  the  thigh 
Jacob  Davis  in  the  thigh 
William  Penn  in  the  Belly 
Robert  Little  left  thigh  amputated 
Joseph  Busah  in  the  thigh 
Robbert  Willet  left  thigh  amputated 


*Cf.  The  Prisoners'  memoirs,  by  Charles  Andrews  for  "a  correct  list  of  killed  and 
wounded  on  the  6th  of  April,  1815  —  contains  a  true  statement  of  their  condition  at 
18  o'clock  on  the  8th  day  of  the  same  month,"  1852  ed.  (pp.  100-108);  also  the  offi- 
cial report  of  the  American  agent,  R.  G.  Beasley,  in  American  state  papers  [Gale* 
and  Seaton  ed.J  Foreign  relations,  T.  4,  1834  (pp.  62-64). 


N°  5        Thomas  Finley  in  the  thigh 
William  Appleby  in  the  arm 
John  Leach  in  the  thigh 
Andrew  Garrison  Head  and  hand 
John  Giar  left  leg  amputated 
William  Lane  in  the  Eye 
Pain  Penny  in  the  Shoulder 

N°  7        James  Willis  in  the  arm  and  two  places  in  the  Body 
Henry  Mountcalm  in  the  Knee 
Frederic  Howard  in  the  leg 
Edward  Lincoln  in  the  thigh 
Francis  Mitchel  in  the  arm 
"  Michal  Cannors  in  the  arm 

a  Number  more  was  slightly  wounded  and  Several  Missing. 


A  List  of  the  Names  of  the  American  prisoners  who  Died  in  the 
hospital  dartmoor  England* 


Name 

DM 

Ve*Mb'  Name* 

Place  of  Residence 

A 

Adigo  henry 

Dec.     23,  1813 

U.  S.  Brig.  Argus 

Howisburg 

Alamanza  Amos 

Sep.      24,  1814 

President 

Carthagina 

Adams  Jno 

Novr.     6,    " 

Grey  hound 

Washington  N  C 

Allen  Asy 

14,    " 

Herald 

New  Bedford 

Allen  John 

"       21,    " 

Herald 

New  York 

Andrews  Josiah 

"       22     " 

David  Porter 

Ipswich  Mast 

Adams  John 

Deer-  th  3     " 

do 

Unknown 

Anderson  Alexand 

"       29     " 

Criterion 

New  York 

[torn] 

Feb.    thS     1815 

Herald 

Unknown 

[Grand]  Turk 

Salem 

Portsmouth 

Appleton  Daniel 

Jan.       4    1815 

Frolick 

Ipswich  Mats 

Amos  Peter 

Feb.      18     " 

Napolean 

Vinyard 

B 

Barren  Thomas 

Nov.      3    1813 

Argus 

Virginia 

Blanchard  Nich«- 

May  th5      " 

Armied 

Unknown 

Bryant  Louis 

Novb.     3    1814 

Hawk 

North  Caroline 

Bray  Ezikiah 

"       20     " 

Ida 

Boston 

Butman  John 

"       23      " 

died  suddenly  in  the  prisen 

Benn  William 

27     " 

Indipendence 

Virginia 

Berry  Peter 

"       28     " 

Chapine  [?] 

Baltimore 

Burley  Henry 

Deer       2     " 

Ampressive  [:] 

New  York 

Baldwinn  Jno 

5     " 

Fox 

Boston 

Barrett  Jason 

8     " 

Buisy 

pensylvania 

Barber  henry 

25     " 

Grey  Hound 

Virginia 

Booth  James 

29     " 

Victory 

New  Hamphery 

(torn)  bb  Benjamin 

Jan       29  1815 



New  York 

Blasdell  Wm 

Jan       10     " 

Impressed 

Portsmouth  N  h 

Beak  Wm 

19     « 

taken  at  fort  Erie 

do 

Brady  Wm 

"       20     " 

Harlequin 

LeeNH 

Berry  George 

Feb      14     " 

Piker 

Baltimore 

Brown  Charles 

"       17     " 

Paul  Jones 

unknown 

Bayley  Moses 

17     " 

Scorpion 

Philadelphia 

Butter  John 

"       23     " 

Simerma 

Delaware 

Blew  John 

Jan         1    1813 

Frolick 

providence 

Blazed  Phillip 

10     " 



New  hamps[hire] 

C 

Cornish  Charles 

"       10    1813 

Chesapeak 

Baltimore 

Cole  James 

Apr      20     " 

Unknown 

Wiscasset 

Cook  Benj 

6     " 

Chesapeak 

Baltimore 

Collins  Jno 

Oct        7 

Mamouth 

unknown 

Carney  Jno 

"       16   1813 

Flash 

Virginia 

Chandler  simon 

"       25     " 

Essex 

Duxbury 

Coleman  Wm 

Nov       5    1814 

Hawk 

N.  Carolina 

*Cf.  The  Prisoners'  memoirs,  by  Charles  Andrews  for  similar  lists:  "of  the 
prisoners  who  died  at  Dartmoor  from  April  1813  until  the  18th  February,  1815; 
copied  from  the  reports  of  the  Doctor,"  (pp.  144-149)  and  "a  correct  list  of  names 
of  prisoners  who  died  at  Dartmoor  prison,  from  February  18,  1815,  until  April  80, 
1816,"  (pp.  140-161). 


Name 

Date 

V«sel',  Nune 

Place  of  Raidence 

Dooper  Thos. 

«                    Q            « 

O 

Flora 

Rhode  Island 

lool  John 

26 

Adeline 

Baltimore 

Coffee  John 

Dec        4     " 

Long  Island 

rampeachy  C 

Jan       19     " 

President 

Carthagina 

Dlark  simon 

"       24     " 

Snap  Dragon 

New  England 

Clarke  Wm 

Jul        10    1813 

Unknown 

barter  Wm 

Oct        5    1814 

Zephyr 

New  York 

D 

3alton  Wm 

May     10     " 

Argus 

Georgia 

)onouer  Wm 

Nov      12    1813 

Syren 

Massachusetts 

3enham  Silus 

Nov      14   1814 

Ida 

Boston 

Daltram  [?]  Amo 

18     " 

Ida 

New  Bedford 

Diamond  Wm 

Jan       23    1815 

Mary 

Rhode  Island 

Dagget  Thomas 

Mar      14    1814 

Argus 

Mass 

E 

idsad  Wm 

Jan       27     " 

Hepsa 

New  Jersey 

r            TJ%  i        j 

"            (*     181? 

M            4.1* 

larens  r.uwaru 
F 

O     lolj 

iNortn  star 

?reely  Henry 

20    1814 

Impressed 

Pensylvania 

nillford  Ibsr 

"       27    1814 

Snap  Dragon 

N.  Carolina 

nirnal  Wm 

..       23     " 

Harper 

Portsmouth 

?owler  Jeshua 

Dec      30     " 

Impressed 

Boston 

G 

Soselin  Tho« 

Apr      29     " 

Augustine 

Martinique 

jibson  Wm 

Oct       22     " 

Rattle  Snake 

New  York 

JJardner  Francis 

Nov       4 

Rambler 

Rhode  Islafnd] 

3ailon  Jno 

Dec        3 

America 

N.  Carolina 

"Judman  Franc 

Febx     17    1815 

Bunkerhill 

Portsmouth 

3winn  Josiah 

"        22      " 

Herald 

Salem 

jreeves  Thos 

27     " 

Portershan  [?] 

Boston 

H 

iughes  Richa 

5    1814 

Amiable 

New  York 

iarris  simen 

March    5    1814 

Madalem  [?] 

New  York 

ienry  Jason 

July     <>3 

Argus  killed  fighting    N  York 

ieart  Jos 

8 

Courier 

New  York 

ierman  Isaac 

Nov       9 

Elbridge  Gerry 

Portland 

-letrope  Jas 

4 

Mary 

Cambridge 

T          •      tT7_— 

24 

Prtrtcmnntft   M   FT 

j.<irns  w  m 
iyder  Dempsey 

Dec      24 

Paul  Jones 

1   tjl  ColIlUU  Lll    i>     1.1 

N  Carolina 

-lendy  Jacob 

Feb        5 

Impressed 

Milford  Cont 

-lartford  Elias 

Jan        6   1815 

Soldier 



Madison  silas 

Dec        4    1814 

Hawk 

N.  Carolina 

Golden  Francis 

Feb      24     " 

Rattle  snake 

Virginia 

J 

ones  Thomas 

Jun        6    1813 

Impressed 



oseph  Peter 

Feb      26    1815 

President 

Martinico 

ackson  Thomas 

June       5    1813 

Hybias 

New  York 

bhnson  Elisha 

Nov      2     " 

William 

Charleston 

oseph  Emanuel 

25    1814 

Impressed 

Oporto  [?] 

Name 

Date 

VcMd'i  Name 

Place  of  Residence 

Johnson  Jno 

Feb 

1 

1814 

Criterion 

New  York 

Jones  John 

u 

8 

1815 

President 

St  Thomas 

Jenkins  Edward 

" 

21 

" 

Tom 

Cambridge 

Jones  Jacob 

" 

23 

" 

Impressed 

Maryland 

Jaires  Thomat 

Jan 

24 

1814 

Industry 

Marblehead 

Jenkins  John 

Feb 

24 

« 

Hawke 

Gay  head 

K 

King  Uriah 

« 

3 

M 

Dominica 

Scituate  mass 

Knapp  James 

M 

27 

1815 

President 

L 

Lester  Jason 

Jan 

1 

1813 

Mars 

Baltimore 

Lewis  Jno 

Aug 

5 

" 

Yankey 

Rhode  Island 

Larkin  Lewis 

Sep 

30 

<c 

Rolla 

Darham  N  H 

Lovely  Pr 

Nov 

1 

1814 

Hawk 

Washington  N  C 

Lovel  Joseph 

« 

3 

" 

President 

Martinico 

Lamb  Anthony 

M 

22 

M 

Grand  Turk 

Connecticut 

Larkin  Amos 
Lufkey  Jas 

Jan 
Feb 

27 
4 

1814 

Empressed 
Enterprize 

Beverly  Mass 
Marble  head 

Lee  Richard 

Dec 

30 

Alevant 

Portland 

Leopatch  Jno 

Feb 

9 

ann 

Mass 

M 

Moor  henry 

Jan 

14 

1814 

Mermaid 

New  York 

Montgomery  Jno 

Feb 

24 

1813 

New  York 

Martin  Daniel 

Sep 

22 

" 

Paul  Jones 

New  Orleans 

Medoza  Charles 

Oct 

th27 

1814 

President 

Cathergina 

Merry  Jno 

Nov 

18 

« 

Rattle  snake 

Baltimore 

Mesler  Richard 

Nov 

20 

« 

Snap  Dragon 

Unknown 

Martial  Saul 

« 

20 

1814 

Alexander 

Mass 

Mitchel  Jno 

Jan/ 

12 

1815 

Charlotte 

Mudge  Joseph 

Dec 

30 

1814 

Unknown 

Morrison  Wm 

" 

14 

" 

Impressed 

Baltimore 

Martin  Jno 

M 

17 

CI 

President 

Cathergena 

Menter  Charles 

Feb 

27 

u 

Merchant 

Portugal 

Miller  Edward 

" 

23 

1815 

Mamouth 

New  York 

Marchens  Jesse 

ci 

3 

« 

McDonough 

Kenebunk 

N 

Norton  Edward 

Nov 

29 

1814 

Frolick 

weymouth 

XT    i   r\**   *»i 

F*»h 

\A 

« 

iNcLSu  iVa.nicl 

p 

r  cu 

1*1 

Pierce  Sami 

Mar 

12 

Dart 

Rhode  Island 

Pinkham  Ephra 

Sept 

25 

1814 

Mamouth 

Wiscassett 

Potters  Jno 

Oct 

5 

i 

Impressed 

Philidelphia 

Potters  G  I 

M 

7 

' 

Enterprize 

Salem 

Perkins  Jas 

Nov 

3 

< 

Syren 

Pitsfield 

Palmer  Jno 

« 

17 

< 

Frolick 

Portsmouth 

Pollard  George 

« 

23 

1 

Ida 

Salem 

Paroga  Jos 

" 

24 

1 

Ida 

Boston 

Parker  Wm 

M 

28 

< 

Independence 

Virginia 

Peters  Aaron 

Jan 

30 

c 

Joel  Barlow 

Thomas  town 

Pr\rt/*r  f^V»arl*»c 

i 

rortcr  v^narics 
Peterson  Sam1 

Dec 

9 

< 

Nonsuch 

philidelphia 

56   ] 


Name 

R 

Renew  Benja 
Rodgers  Luke 
Reed  David 
Robertson  frank 
Rice  Thomas 
Robertson  Sam1 


Nov 
« 

Nov 
Feb 


16     " 
12     " 

14  1814 
7     " 

15  " 
15  1815 


Vend'a  Nao>« 

Fox 

Fairy 

America 

Chesapeak 

Salvador 


Place  of  Raidenc* 

Guadaloupe 
N  Carolina 
towns  end 
Spain 
Suffolk 
Boston 


Saunders  Wm 
Shaw  Wm 
Saul  frances 
Sawyer  Jed 
Studdy  Richa 
Simpson  Isaac 
Stow  Lewis 
Smart  Wm 
Sew  Jacob 
Steel  [?]  John 
Sheldon  Henry 
Scudding  Sa.  (?] 
Strout  Jno 
Stow  Jno 
Sinamon  Dan 
Smith  Nichol 
Sutton  Martin 
Simmon  Ebenr 

T 

Terry  Wm 
Tobby  Elijah 
Thomas  Uriah 
Timmon  M. : 
Tomas  John 
Tuttle  Francis 
Tailor  J  B 
Tophouse  Sam 
Thomas  Henry 
Tom  kins  K 

V 

Vaughn  K 
Very  Daniel 
Virgis  James 

W 

Williams  Tho 
Williams  Jas 
Williams  Jas 
Whithan  Jno 
Wert  George 

Y 
Young  Wm 


Jan 

16 

" 

Oct 

17 

1814 

" 

20 

" 

" 

25 

" 

Nov 

3 

H 

Dec 

20 

" 

" 

21 

" 

u 

5 

II 

it 

7 

it 

" 

15 

1814 

Jan 

24 

M 

" 

19 

(( 

M 

20 

" 

Jan 

5 

1815 

" 

23 

M 

Dec 

8 

1814 

Feb 

22 

1815 

Jan 

20 

H 

Feb 

Mar 

Jul 

Feb 

Oct 

Nov 

Dec 

Feb 

M 

Nov 

Aug 
Jan 


15  1813 

9  1814 
23 

26  1813 

25  1813 

24  1814 
2     " 

13  1813 

24  1815 

13  1814 

31      " 

24  1815 
8     " 


March  20  1813 

Oct       27  1814 

1  1815 
14     " 

28  1815 

21     " 


Feb 
Jan 


Mars 

Argus 

Mercury 

Impressed 

Amelia 

Invincible 

Tickler 

Gothland 

Volunteer 

William 


Siro 

Harlequin 

E  - 

Enterprize 

Herald 

Lyon 


Baltimore 

Philidelphia 

Wiscasset 

Providence 

Virginia 

New  York 

New  York 

Virginia 

New  York 

Ireland 

Portland 
Kenebunk 

Salem 

Richmond  Va 
New  Bedford 


Viper  Unknown 

Yankey  New  York 

Paul  Jones  Connecticut 

Tom  New  York 
Lion 

E  Gerry  N  York 

hung  himself  in  No.  5  prison)     N  York 
Soldier 

Clarence  Sloughton 
Unknown 


Frolic  k 
Growler 

Maria 

Impressed 
Carolina 
Harlequin 
Harlequin 

Levant 


Long  Island 

Salem 

Marblehead 

Georgetown 
Gay  head 


Portsmouth 
Portsmouth 


from  the  1  of  March  1815  to  the  first  of  April  following  died  in  the  hospital  with 
the  Small  pox  about  seventy  Americans  prisoner  of  war  whose  Names  is  not  here 
Inserted 


The 
Description  of  Dartmoor  Prison  Devonshire 

and  the 
British  Massacre  on  the  sixth  of  April  A.D.  1815 

by  a 
Prisoner  of  War. 


[  58  ] 

DARTMOOR  DEPOT  is  situated  in  the  county  of  Devon- 
shire* and  lies  about  15  miles  N  E  of  plymouth  and  26  miles 
W  N  W  of  exeter  the  capital  town,  its  appearance  and  Situation  is 
most  unpleasant  and  disagreeable  imaginable,  the  country  around 
as  far  as  the  eye  extends  is  one  uneven  barren  and  dreary  waste, 
not  a  tree  Shrub  or  scarce  a  plant  is  seen  for  many  miles  around, 
here  and  there  appears  a  miserable  thatched  Cottage  whose  out- 
ward appearance  bespeaks  the  misery  and  poverty  within,  here 
no  cheering  prospect  greets  the  prisoners  eye,  bountiful  nature 
here  denies  all  her  sweets  and  seems  to  simpathize  with  the  un- 
happy Prisoner  the  loss  of  every  joy  that  renders  life  worth 
preserving,  the  climate  here  is  rather  unhealthy,  the  prisoners 
here  are  almost  allways  afflicted  with  colds  and  severe  pains  dur- 
ing 9  months  in  the  year,  owing  most  probably  to  its  height,  it 
being  upwards  of  1700  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  sea,  this 
Depot  consists  of  7  Prisons  each  calculated  to  contain  from  11 
to  1,500  men  who  are  under  the  care  of  an  agent,  appointed  by 
and  under  the  controle  of  the  transport  board,  here  are  stationed 
as  gaurds  upwards  of  2000  well  disaplined  malitia  &  2  companies 
of  royal  Artilary,  the  Prisons  are  all  strong  built  of  stone  and  are 
surrounded  with  2  circular  walls,  the  outward  wall  measures  one 
mile  in  circumferance  and  on  the  inner  wall  is  a  milatary  walk 
for  Centinels,  within  this  wall  distance  about  20  feet  are,  Iron 
pallisadees  about  10  feet  high,  adjoining  the  outward  wall  are 
gaurd  houses  placed  N.  E.  and  South  there  are  3  sepperate  gards 
which  communicates  with  each  other  through  the  passage  of 
about  150  feet  long  &  20  broad  gaurded  on  each  side  by  Iron 
bars,  over  which  and  fronting  N°  4  is  a  milatary  walk  for  centi- 
nals,  oposite  the  passage  is  the  market  square  in  passing  into 
either  yard  you  pass  through  2  Iron  gates  so  that  all  communica- 
tion may  be  stopped  at  pleasure,  which  is  often  done  to  annoy 
and  vex  the  Prisoners,  in  the  first  yard  there  contains  three  pris- 
ons N°  1.  2.  3  N°  1  &  3  are  only  occupied  by  the  American 
Prisoners,  and  N°  2  stands  empty,  in  the  other  yard  N°  5  &  7 
also  are  occupied,  and  N°  6  stands  empty,  and  N°  4  for  the  blacks, 
the  inside  of  the  prisons  presents  a  melancholy  and  disagreeable 
aspect  and  one  would  imagine  they  were  calculated  for  cattle 
rather  then  the  human  species,  North  of  no.  1  between  the  inner 
wall  and  Iron  railing,  stands  the  condemned  Prison,  this  is  a 


*This  account  of  the  Dartmoor  massacre,  copied  by  another  hand  at  the  close  of 
Joseph  Valpey'a  Journal,  was  evidently  used  by  Edgar  S.  Maclay  in  his  History  of 
American  privateers,  (1899  ed.,  p.  367).  It  has  not  been  found  printed  in  any  of  the 
books  on  this  subject  which  are  available  for  consultation. 


[  59  ] 

place  of  punishment  for  various  offencies  commited  by  individ- 
uals, four  persons  having  been  condemned  by  the  government  to 
suffer  imprisonment  during  the  war,  for  attempting  to  blow  a 
Prize  up,  this  Prison  is  calculated  to  contain  60  persons  who  are 
allowed  a  blanket  &  straw  instead  of  their  ordinary  bedding, 
their  daily  allowance  is  considerably  reduced,  a  small  apperture 
near  the  roof  admits  the  light  fronting  N°  1  yard  is  a  wall  seperat- 
ing  it  from  the  Hospital,  and  -fronting  the  other  yard  is  another 
wall  seperating  it  from  the  inner  barracks,  the  market  which  fronts 
the  passage  leading  from  one  prison  to  the  other,  is  nearly  square, 
and  will  contain  nearly  5000  persons,  and  is  allowed  to  be  opened 
every  day  except  Sundays  at  eleven  oclock  and  closed  at  one,  and 
is  productive  of  no  small  profits  to  the  country  people,  at  the  uper 
part  of  the  square,  are  two  stone  houses,  one  for  Kings  and  the 
other  for  Prisoners  stores,  the  other  buildings  attatched  to  this 
depot  are  houses  for  turnkeys  and  clarks,  one  for  the  agent  and 
one  for  the  Doctor;  to  enter  either  of  the  Prisons  yards  from 
without,  you  must  pass  through  5  gates,  fronting  the  outer  gate 
is  a  reservoir  of  water,  which  is  brought  the  Distance  of  6  miles 
by  means  of  a  canal  which  supplies  the  differant  yards  with 
water ;  the  Hospital  is  under  the  superintendance  of  a  Physician 
who  has  2  assistant  Doctors,  George  Magrath  the  present  super- 
intendant,  is  a  gentleman  of  Eminance  and  skill  in  his  profession, 
and  will  ever  be  remembered  by  the  American  Prisoners,  with 
esteem  and  respect,  the  sick  have  uniformly  received  from  him 
every  attention  that  delicacy  and  humanity  could  dictate,  at  this 
time  there  are  5600  prisoners  in  this  depot,  nearly  one  half  of 
whom  are  men  who  have  been  imprest  in  his  majesties  service 
prior  to  the  war,  many  hardships  have  been  suffered  by  the  Pris- 
oners more  especially  in  the  year  1813  which  was  exceeding  cold 
and  severe,  although  excessively  cold  and  many  of  the  Prisoners 
almost  naked,  no  fire  was  allowed,  nor  cloathing  served  to  pro- 
tect their  shivering  limbs  and  half  famished  bodies  from  the 
inclemency  of  the  weather,  it  must  be  observed  that  the  prisoners 
at  that  time  received  no  assistance  from  their  Government  and 
many  of  them  had  been  rob'd  or  plundered  of  their  cloathing 
whereby  by  the  time  winter  commenced  were  little  short  of 
nakedness in  april  following  they  received  from  their  inex- 
orable agent  Mr.  Beasly  a  suit  of  cloathing  and  %l/2  pr.  Day, 
which  sum  tho'  small  was  a  great  relief,  the  prisoners  on  many 
occasions  have  received  very  injurious  and  harsh  treatment  from 
the  Governor  of  the  Depot,  having  allways  endeavored  to  curtail 


[  60  ] 

them  of  the  smallest  liberty  or  indulgence,  the  recent  Massacre 
which  took  place  by  his  order  ought  forever  to  stamp  the  name 
of  Thomas  George  Shortland  with  cowardice,  Barbarity  Infamy 
&  disgrace,  his  name  will  never  be  mentioned  by  a  single  Amer- 
ican Prisoner  but  with  sentiments  of  detestation  horror  and 

contempt 

On  the  6th  day  of  April  1815  as  a  small  party  of  prisoners 
were  amusing  themselves  at  a  game  of  ball,  some  one  of  the  num- 
ber striking  it  with  too  much  violence  it  went  over  the  wall  front- 
ing the  prison  the  Centinals  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  same  were 
requested  to  heave  the  ball  back,  but  refused,  on  which  the  party 
threataned  to  brake  through  and  regain  the  ball  and  immediatly 
put  their  threats  in  execution,  a  hole  was  made  in  the  wall  suffi- 
ciently large  enough  for  a  man  to  pass  through,  but  no  one  at- 
temped  it,  soon  after  the  alarm  bell  rung  and  the  milatary  beat 
to  arms  the  prisoners  surprised  at  the  alarm  run  into  the  Passage 
opposite  the  market,  when  appeared  Captain  Shortland  at  the 
head  of  about  500  of  the  Malitia,  the  front  rank  of  whom  were 
ordered  to  fire,  and  soon  after  the  rear  done  the  same,  with  con- 
siderable execution  and  persued  the  Prisoners  to  the  yards,  the 
Scenes  of  barbarity  and  horror  which  were  witness'd  on  this 
Day  are  indiscribable,  9  were  killed  and  38  were  wounded,  six  of 
whom  lost  their  legs  and  arms,  and  many  others  severely 
wounded;  a  man  by  name  John  Washington  being  wounded  and 
overtaken  by  the  milatary  begged  for  his  life  but  those  Ruffians 
deaf  to  the  voice  of  pity,  deliberatly  pointed  their  muskets  within 
six  inches  of  his  head  and  blew  his  brains  out,  a  young  lad  aged 
fourteen  was  run  through  the  body  by  an  officer  of  the  milatary, 
many  other  instances  of  the  most  savage  barbarity  took  place 
on  this  fatal  day  scarce  a  single  person  that  was  thus  persecuted 

knew  the  cause  thereof:  Captain  Shortland  endeavours 

to  justify  his  conduct  by  saying  the  prisoners  were  attempting 
to  break  out  so  far  from  that  being  the  case  the  prisoners  were 
in  momentary  expectation  of  being  drafted  on  board  Cartels,  and 
had  the  prison  gates  been  thrown  open,  scarce  a  single  person  of 
five  thousand  would  have  left  the  Prison;  it  is  a  notorious  fact 
that  Capt.  Shortland  has  long  sought  a  plausible  pretext  to  glut 
his  revenge  and  hatred  against  men  whose  principles  and  man- 
ners are  so  incongruous  with  those  of  his  countrymen  in  general 


The  6th  of  April  will  long  be  remembered  with  emotions  of 
horror  and  grief  by  every  American  Prisoner,  with  horror  at  the 


[61  ] 

savage  furosity  of  the  milatary  headed  by  Capt.  Shortland;  with 
grief  at  the  untimely  Death  of  their  unprotected  and  defenceles 

Brethren;  w[h]ere  ye  britons  on  that  day  was  your 

boasted  valour,,, was  it  displayed  in  your  wanton  attack 

on  a  few  defenceless  men; — w[h]ere  was  your  vaunted  generosity 
and  clemency  was  it  in  opening  the  Prison  doors  and  discharging 
Vollies  of  musketry  at  the  prisoners  within,  where  was  the  amity 

and  Friendship  so  lately  pledged  by  your  government:  

was  it  shewn  in  wantonly  murdering  those  brave  and  unfortunate 

men  who  had  been  struggling  for  their  rights:  where 

sleeps  the  sword  of  justice,  that  should  revenge  our  wrongs: 

behold  the  assasin  beneath  the  protection  of  despot 

Tyrants,  securely  tryumph  and  bid  defiance  to  Justice ;  Oh  Shame 

where  is  thy  blush ;  oh  cowardice  where  is  thy  confusion 

but  know  ye  bloody  butchers  of  our  slaughtered  countrymen  that 
millions  of  free  born  sons  of  liberty,  shall  ere  long  revenge  their 
murdered  Brethren,  Ere  long  shall  the  avenging  Sword  of  justice 
leap  from  its  scabbard  and  bid  defiance  to  tyranny  and  oppression 
Farewell  ye  unfortunate  friends  who  fell  untimely  victims  of 
barbarity,  no  more  shall  you  be  partakers  of  our  joy,  or  the  pleas- 
ing companions  of  our  social  hours,  no  more  shall  the  musick  of 
festivity  or  the  welcome  embrace  of  those  you  held  most  dear, 
dilate  your  hearts  with  joy,  or  attune  your  souls  to  harmony  and 
love,  farewell  ye  murdered  brethren ;  the  innocent  victims  of  in- 
human assasins,  Peace  in  vain  extended  her  cheering  olive,  in 

vain  did  justice  Humanity  or  mercy  plead  in  your  behalf. 

in  vain  did  you  beg  for  a  moment  to  prepare  yourselves  for 
eternity  Ye  tender  and  affectionate  Parents  who  are  now  antici- 
pating the  happy  return  of  your  affectionate  children  how  will 
the  cup  of  anticipated  bliss  be  dashed  to  the  ground  when  you 
receive  the  fatal  news  of  their  untimely  Deaths;  no  more  shall 
the  musick  of  their  voices  sound  delightful  to  your  ears;  no 
more  shall  their  affectionate  regards  reward  the  parential  care 
of  their  early  youth;  well  may  ye  curse  the  distroyers  of  your 
happiness,  the  butchers  of  your  sons 

Ye  disconsalate  and  unprotected  widows  who  with  fond 
Solicitude  are  awaiting  to  welcome  and  press  to  your  affectionate 
hearts  the  partners  of  your  bosoms ;  how  will  your  hearts  throb 
with  anguish  and  your  bosoms  fill  with  woe  when  the  tale  of 
horror  is  repeated  and  their  loss  confirmed 

Behold  the  Widows  arms  extended  to  embrace  the  dear 
pledges  of  their  mutual  loves  while  they  in  lisping  accents  in 


[  62  1 

vain  repeat  the  name  of  Father,  ye  helpless  orphens  babes,  no 
more  shall  ye  receive  the  tender  caresses  of  your  affectionate 
father,  no  more  shall  ye  be  dandled  on  the  Knee  or  receive  from 
his  glowing  lips  the  kisses  of  Paternal  affection,  Ye  sons  of 
Columbia  the  Blood  of  your  slaughtered  countrymen  Cries  to  you 

from  the  ground  avenge  our  Deaths 

remember  the  6th  of  April  AD  1815 


Letters 

from  Joseph  Valpey  Junr.  to  His  Friends 
in  the  Hospital 

Dartmoor 

March  thl  1815 


[  64  ] 

from  J  Valpey  Jr  to  Josiah  G[winn] 

February  th6  1815 
Dear  Friend 

having  Not  heard  from  you  Since  you  went  into  the  Hospital 
it  makes  me  feel  Very  desirous  to  hear  from  you  I  would  be 
much  Obliedged  to  you  if  you  would  Send  me  a  few  Lines  And 
Direct  it  to  the  N°.  7  Prison  Mess  N°.  129 

Yours  &c      Joseph  Valpey  Jun. 


from  Josiah  [Gwinn] 
to  Joseph  Valpey  Jr 

February  th7  1815 
Dear  Friend 

I  send  you  a  few  Lines  to  Imform  you  that  I  am  as  well  as 
can  be  Expected  with  the  Small  Pox  I  wish  that  you  would  take 
care  of  my  Clothes  that  [you]  have  in  your  Possesion  So  I  Re- 
main your  Sincere  Friend  till  Death  &c 

Josiah  Gwinn 
Hospital 

Ward  NO.  1 


[fr]om  Joseph  Valpey  Jr 
to  Edward  A  Porter 

Feb*  th!0  1815 
Esteemed  Friend 

According  to  promise  I  Send  you  a  few  Line's  and  as  not  hav- 
ing heard  from  you  since  you  Left  us  I  wish  that  you  would 
Enquire  after  Josiah  Gwinn  and  write  to  me  as  soon  as  you  can 
make  it  Convinent  and  by  so  doing  you  Will  Obliedge  your's  &c 

Joseph  Valpey  Junr 


[  65  ] 

[from]  Edward  A  Porter 
[to  Jo]seph  Valpey  Junr 

N°  5  Ward  Feb*  thll  1815 
Dear  Friend 

I  Improve  the  Present  opportunity  to  Inform  you  that  I  have 
made  perticular  Enq[uiry] ,  After  Mr.  Gwinn — I  am  Imformed 
that  his  Life  is  dispaired  off  I  however  hope  that  he  may  get  over 
it  I  am  In  hopes  to  be  out  in  t[he]  Course  of  a  week — Sir  i  wish 
for  a  little  Cash  [if  it?]  were  possible  to  procure  it — 

yours  E  A  Porter 


Bibliography 

[Abbatt,  William.]  Dartmoor  Prison  and  the  church  memorial.  (Maga- 
zine of  history,  with  notes  and  queries,  July,  1910.  v.  12,  p.  66-69,  front.) 

[Andrews,  Charles.]     The  prisoners'  memoirs.    N.  Y.,  1815. 

N.  Y.,  1852. 

Catel,  L.     La  prison  de  Dartmoor.    Paris,  1847. 

Clay,  Henry.  [Letter  to  James  A.  Bayard,  London,  April  28,  1815.  Dart- 
moor massacre  and  transportation  of  prisoners  to  America.]  (Amer- 
ican historical  association.  Annual  report,  1913.  v.  2,  p.  380-382.) 

Cobb,  J.  A.    A  younker's  first  cruise.     1841. 

Dartmoor  Prison  as  it  was  and  as  it  is.  (Fraser's  magazine,  November, 
1853.  v.  48,  p.  577-587.) 

Reprinted  in  Eclectic  magazine,  January,  1854.    v.  31,  p.  123-131,  and  in  Littell's 
Living  age,  December  10,   1853.    v.   39,  p.  671-678. 

Hawthorne,  Nathaniel,  ed.     Papers  of  an  old  Dartmoor  prisoner.     (7n 

United   States  magazine  and  Democratic  review,   1846.      New  series. 

v.  18-19.) 
McNeel,  John  Greenville.    American  prisoners  at  Dartmoor.     (Harper's 

monthly  magazine,  September,  1904.    v.  109,  p.  548-555.) 
[Palmer,  Benjamin  Franklin.]     The  diary  of  Benjamin  F.  Palmer,  pri- 

vateersman.    N.  Y.,  1914.     (Acorn  club,  Publication  11.) 


[  66  ] 

Pierce,  Edward  L.  Communication: — The  American  prisoners  at  Dart- 
moor. (Massachusetts  historical  society.  Proceedings,  2d  series,  1896. 
v.  10,  p.  116-117.) 

[Memoranda  about  Dartmoor  Prison  communicated  by  Justin  Win- 

sor.]     (Massachusetts  historical  society.     Proceedings,  2d  series,  1892. 
v.  7,  p.  17-18.) 

Reminiscences  of  a  Dartmoor  prisoner.  (In  Knickerbocker  magazine. 
1844.  v.  23-24.) 

Steele,  J.  Aulay.  America  on  Dartmoor.  (Chambers's  journal,  June  1, 
1918.  [v.  95],  7th  series,  v.  8,  p.  424-427.) 

Thomson,  Basil.    The  story  of  Dartmoor  Prison.    London,  1907. 

U.  S.  33d  Congress,  1st  session.  House.  Compensation  and  bounty  land  to 
certain  American  seamen  .  .  .  Report  .  .  .  Committee  on  in- 
valid pensions  to  which  were  referred  the  petitions  and  papers  of 
sundry  citizens  of  Maine,  Massachusetts  and  New  York,  prisoners  in 
Dartmoor  and  other  British  prisons  during  the  war  of  1812.  (Report, 
no.  344.) 

U.  S.  President,  1809-1817  (Madison).  Message  .  .  .  transmitting 
a  report  of  the  Secretary  of  state  ...  in  obedience  to  a  resolu- 
tion of  the  House  of  representatives  of  the  4th  inst.,  in  relation  to  the 
transactions  at  Dartmoor  Prison  in  the  month  of  April  last,  so  far  as 
the  American  prisoners  of  war,  there  confined,  were  affected  by  such 
transactions.  January  31,  1816  .  .  .  Washington,  1816.  ([State 
papers]  36.) 

Also  in  American  state  papers,  [Gales  &  Seaton  ed.]  Foreign  relations,  v.  4, 
1834,  p.  19-56,  under  caption,  "Great  Britain — Massacre  at  Dartmoor  Prison." 
(14th  Congress,  1st  session,  no.  281.) 

Message  .   .   .  transmitting  a  report  of  the  Secretary  of  state  in 

obedience  to  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  representatives  of  the  28th 
of  February  last,  on  the  number  of  impressed  American  seamen  con- 
fined in  Dartmoor  Prison;  the  number  surrendered,  given  up,  or  taken 
on  board  British  vessels  captured  during  the  late  war;  together  with 
their  places  of  residence.    April  29,  1816    .     .     .    Washington,  1816. 

[Waterhouse,  Benjamin.]    A  journal  of  a  young  man  of  Massachusetts, 

late  a  surgeon  on  board  an  American  privateer.    Boston,  1816. 
,  2d  ed.,  Boston,  1816, 

Fiction 

Phillpotts,  Eden.    The  American  prisoner,  a  romance  of  the  west  country. 

N.  Y.,  1904. 
Reynolds,  Joseph.    Peter  Gott,  the  Cape  Ann  fisherman.    Boston,  1856. 

Poetry 

Carrington,  N.  T.    Dartmoor:  a  descriptive  poem.    2d  ed.    London,  1826. 
W.,  I.  H.    The  Dartmoor  massacre.  1815  [Reprint,  N.  Y.,  1911].     (Mag- 
azine of  history,  with  notes  and  queries.    Extra  no.  15  [pt.  2].) 


f 


Persons  and  Vessels  Mentioned 


Abbot, ,  29,  30. 

Abbot,  S.,  1,  3. 

Abbot,  William,  27. 

Abbott,  W.,  14. 

Adams,  John,  52. 

Adams,  Robert,  20.  , 

Adeline,  52. 

Adigo,  Henry,  52. 

Akbar  (frigate),  12. 

Alamanza,  Amos,  52. 

Alevant,  54. 

Alexander,  54. 

Allen,  Asy,  52. 

Allen,  Henry,  26. 

Allen,  John,  52. 

America  (ship),  vi,  53,  54. 

Amiable,  53. 

Amos,  Peter,  52. 

Anderson,  Alexander,  52. 

Andrews,  Josiah,  52. 

Ann,  54. 

Appleby,  William,  51. 

Appleton,  Daniel,  18,  52. 

Archer,  Daniel,  18,  31. 

Archer,  Samuel,  15,  18,  20. 

Argus  (brig),  52,  53,  55. 

Armied,    [Armede,   Armide]    (frigate), 

11,  29,  52. 
Ashton,  William,  14,  15,  16,  18,  19,  20, 

22,  23,  25,  26,  27. 
Atwill,  Mehitable  (Valpey),  v. 
Augustine,  53. 
Avon  (brig),  43. 

Baldwinn,  John,  52. 

Barber,  Henry,  52. 

Barlow,  Joel,  see  Joel  Barlow. 

Barrett,  Jason,  52. 

Barron,  Thomas,  52. 

B  iyley,  Moses,  52. 

Beak,  William,  52. 

Beasley,  Reuben  G.,  25,  33,  36,  60. 

Beckford,  John,  14,  16,  17. 

Bell,  James,  50. 

Benn,  William,  52. 

Bentley,  William,  v. 

Berry,  George,  52. 

Berry,  Peter,  52. 

Bertram, ,  29. 


Blake,  William,  50. 

Blanchard,  Nicha,  52. 

Blasdell,  William,  52. 

Blazed,  Phillip,  52. 

Blew,  John,  52. 

Blind  George,  the  crier,  18. 

Boden,  William,  17. 

Bonaparte,  [Napoleon],  vi,  25. 

Booth,  James,  52. 

Brady,  William,  52. 

Bray,  Ezikiah  [1],  52. 

Brown,  Charles,  52. 

Brutus,  20. 

Bryant,  Louis,  52. 

Buisy,  52. 

Bunker  Hill,  53. 

Burley,  Henry,  52. 

Burton,  Clarence  Monroe,  v. 

Busah,  Joseph,  50. 

Butman,  John,  52. 

Butman,  Nehemiah,  15. 

Butter,  John,  52. 

Cambell,  George,  50. 

Campeachy,  C.,  53. 

Cannors,  Michal,  51. 

Carney,  John,  52. 

Carolina  (schooner),  55. 

Carter,  William,  S3. 

Catharine,  see  Little  Catharine. 

Chadwick,  John,  16. 

Chandler,  Simon,  52. 

Chapine  [?],  52. 

Charlotte  (brig),  54. 

Chesapeake  (frigate),  52,  55. 

Clarence,  55. 

Clark,  Simon,  53. 

Clarke,  William,  53. 

demons,  Gilbert,  vi. 

Codders,  Caleb,  50. 

Coffee,  John,  52. 

Cole,  James,  52. 

Coleman,  William,  52. 

Collins,  John,  52. 

Constitution  (frigate),  30,  43,  48. 

Cook,  Benjamin,  52. 

Cook,  Samuel,  11,  25,  26,  27. 

Cool,  John,  52. 

Cooper,  Thomas,  52. 


Cornish,   Charles,  52. 
Courier,  53. 
Criterion,  52,  53. 
Crowninshield,  Bowdoin  B.,  v. 

Dagget,  Thomas,  53. 

Dalton,  William,  53. 

Daltram  [?],  Amo,  53. 

Dart,  54. 

David  Porter,  52. 

Davis,  Jacob,  50. 

Decator  [Decatur,  Stephen],  43. 

Denham,  Silus  [ !],  53. 

Diamond,  William,  53. 

Dominica  {schooner),  54. 

Donouer,  William,  53. 

Dotterel  (brig),  4. 

Earens,  Edward,  53. 

Edsad,  William,  53. 

Edwards,  W.,   11. 

Elbridge  Gerry,  53,  55. 

Endymon  [Endymion]   (frigate),  11,  29. 

Enterprise,  54,  55. 

Essex  {frigate),  52. 

Eulin,  ,  17,  22,  26. 

Fairy,  54. 

Favourite  (sloop),  23,  24. 

Felt,  ,  14,  15. 

Felt,  George,  26,  27. 

Felt,  William,   16. 

Finley,  Thomas,  51. 

Fisher,  John,  14. 

Flash,  52. 

Flora,  52. 

Ford,  Phillip,  50. 

Fowler,  Jeshua,  53. 

Fox,  52,  54. 

Freeland,  Frances,  See  Sir  Frances 

Freeland  (packet). 
Freely,  Henry,  53. 
Frolick  [Frolic],  52,  54,  55. 
Fullford,  Ibsr,  53. 
Furnal,  William,  53. 

Gailon,  John,  53. 
Gale,  Edward,  15,  16. 
Gardner,  Edward,  50. 
Gardner,  Francis,  53. 
Garret,  William,  14. 
Garrison,   Andrew,   51. 
General  Putnam,  17. 


George,  see  Blind  George,  the  crier. 

Gerry,  Elbridge,  see  Elbridge  Gerry. 

Giar,  John,  51. 

Gibson,  William,  53. 

Glover,  John  H.,  1. 

Goselin,  Thomas,  53. 

Gothland,  55. 

Gotier,  C,  26. 

Grand  Turk,  52,  54. 

Gray,  John,  50. 

Gray,  William,  11,  20,  21,  22,  23,  26,  28, 

29. 

Green,  Charles,  15. 
Green,  Samuel,  15,  17,  25,  28. 
Greeves,  Thomas,  53. 
Greyhound,  52. 
Growler,  55. 
Gudman,  Franc,  53. 

Gwinn, ,  uncle  of  John  Mack,  23. 

Gwinn,  Josiah,  11,  14,  15,  19,  20,  21,  22, 

29,  31,  49,  53,  64,  65. 

Hadison,  Silas,  53. 

Harlequin,  52,  55. 

Harper,  53. 

Harriot  (brig),  5. 

Harris,  Simen   [!],  53. 

Harris,   William,   53. 

Harrison,  James,  16,  20. 

Hartford,  Elias,  53. 

Hawk  (schooner),  52,  53,  54. 

Haywood,  John,  50. 

Heart,  Joseph,  53. 

Hendy,  Jacob,  53. 

Henry,  Jason,  53. 

Hepsa,  53. 

Herald  (schooner),  vi,  3,  4,  11,  26,  29. 

52,  53,  55. 
Herman,  Isaac,  53. 
Hetrope,  James,  53. 
Holden,  Francis,  53. 
Hope  (ship),  vi. 
Howard,  Frederic,  51. 
Hughes,  Richard,  53. 
Hull,  [Isaac],  43. 
Hybias,  53. 
Hyder,    Dempsey,   53. 

Ida  (brig),  11,  52,  53,  54. 
Independence,  52,  54. 
Industry,  54. 
Ingerspll,  John,  15,  26. 
Invincible,  55. 


Invincible  Napoleon  (corvette),  11,  52. 
Isreal,  James,  SO. 

Jackson,  Thomas,  50,  53. 
Jaires,  Thomas,  54. 
Jenkins,  Edward,  53. 
Jenkins,  John,  54. 
Joel  Barlow,  54. 
John  (schooner),  9. 
Johnson,  Elisha,  53. 
Johnson,  John,  53. 
Johnson,  Joseph,  50. 

Jones, ,  Rev.,  23. 

Jones,  Jacob,  54. 

Jones,  John,  53. 

Jones,  Paul,  see  Paul  Jones  (schooner). 

Jones,  Thomas,  53. 

Joseph,  Emanuel,  53. 

Joseph,  Peter,  53. 

King,  Uriah,  54. 
Knapp,  James,  54. 
Knowlton,   Enos,  11. 

Lamb,  Anthony,  54. 

Lambert,  Samuel,  11,  12,  14,  15,  29. 

Lane,  William,  51. 

Larkin,  Amos,  54. 

Larkin,  Lewis,  54. 

Leach,  John,  51. 

Lee,   Richard,   54. 

Leopatch,  John,  54. 

Lester,  Jason,  54. 

Levant,  55. 

Leverige,  William,  50. 

Lewis,  John,  54. 

Lincoln,  Edward,  51. 

Lion  (sloop),  55;  see  also  Lyon. 

Little,  Robert,  50. 

Little  Catharine  (packet),  7,  8. 

Louis  [XVIII],  king  of  France,  25. 

Lovel,  Joseph,  54. 

Lovely,  Pr.,  54. 

Lufkey,  James,  54. 

Lyon,  55;  see  also  Lion  (sloop). 

McDonald  [Macdonough,  Thomas],  43. 

McDonough   (brig),  54. 

Mack,  John,  23. 

Madalem  [?],  53. 

Magrath,  George,  59. 

Majestic  (razee),  11. 

Mamouth  [Mammoth],  52,  54. 


Mann,  John,  50. 
Mansfield,  George,  22. 
Manwell,  Annie  (Atwill),  vi. 
Marchens,  Jesse,  54. 
Maria,  55. 
Mars,  54,  55. 
Martial,  Saul,  54. 
Martin,  Daniel,  54. 
Martin,  John,  54. 
Mary  (transport?),  53. 
Medoza,  Charles,  54. 
Menter,  Charles,  54. 
Merchant,  54. 
Mercury,  55. 
Mermaid,  54. 
Merry,  John,  54. 
Mesler,  Richard,  54. 
Miller,  Edward,  54. 
Miller,  John,  vi,  3. 
Miller,  Joseph,  29. 
Millet,  John,  17. 
Millet,  Joseph,  14,  19,  22. 
Mitchel,  Francis,  51. 
Mitchel,  John,  54. 
Monkey  (schooner),  1,  11. 
Montgomery,  John,  54. 
Moor,  Henry,  54. 
Morrison,  William,  54. 
Mountcalm,  Henry,  51. 
Mudge,  Joseph,  54. 

Napoleon,  see  Invincible  Napoleon  (cor- 
vette). 
Nash,  Daniel,  54. 

Niel,  ,   16. 

Nonsuch  (schooner),  4,  54. 
North  Star,  53. 
Norton,  Edward,  54. 

Ogleby,  John,  50. 
Orene,  J.,  18. 

Orne,  Josiah,  15,  16,  17,  19,  20,  22,  23, 
24,  26,  27,  28. 

Palmer,  John,  54. 
Parker,  William,  54. 
Paroga,  Joseph,  54. 

Paul,  ,  24. 

Paul  Jones  (schooner),  52,  53,  54,  55. 
Peacock  (rs.loop),  43. 
Penn,  William,  50. 
Penny,  Pain,  51. 
Perkins,  E.,  14. 


Perkins,  James,  54. 

Peters,  Aaron,  54. 

Peterson,  Samuel,  54. 

Phillips,  Stephen,  50. 

Phippen,  Israel,  14,  15,  17,  21,  24,  25,  26, 

27. 

Phippen,  John,  14,  15,  16,  17,  20,  22,  23. 
Phippen,  William,  31. 
Pickman,  J.,  28. 
Pierce,  Samuel,  54. 
Piker,  52. 
Pinder,  Peter  Washington,  14,  16,  18, 19, 

20,  22,  23,  24,  25,  26. 
Pinkham,  Ephra,  54. 
Pitman,  Joseph,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18,  19,  21, 

22,  24,  25. 
Place  (brig),  5. 
Pollard,  George,  54. 
Porter,  Charles,  54. 
Porter,  David,  see  David  Porter. 
Porter,  Edward  A.,  15,  18,  20,  23,  25,  26, 

28,  64,  65. 
Porter shan  [?],  53. 
Potters,  G.  I.,  54. 
Potters,  John,  54. 
President  (frigate),  22,  52,  53,  54. 

Price, ,  21. 

Putnam,  see  General  Putnam. 

Rambler,  53. 

Rattlesnake  (brig),  53,  54. 
Reed,  David,  54. 
Reindeer,  43. 
Renew,  Benjamin,  54. 
Rice,  Thomas,  55. 
Richardson,  William,  15. 
Ring  Dove  (sloop),  vi. 
Robberts,  John,  50. 

Robertson,  ,  17,  24. 

Robertson,  Frank,  55. 
Robertson,  Samuel,  55. 
Rodgers,  Luke,  54. 
Rolla,  54. 

Saul,  Frances,  55. 
Saunders,  William,  55. 
Sawyer,  Jed,  55. 
Scorpion,  52. 
Scudding,  Sa.  [?],  55. 
Sew,  Jacob,  55. 
Shaw,  William,  55. 
Sheldon,  Henry,  55. 


Shepherd,  [Sheppard,  Shepperd],  Samuel, 

15,  16,  18,  23,  25,  26. 
Shortland,  Thomas  George,  19,  21,  27, 

60,  61. 

Shute,  William,  18. 
Signet  (brig),  5. 
Silsby,  Nathaniel,  15. 
Simerma,  52. 
Simmon,  Ebenr,  55. 
Simpson,  Isaac,  55. 
Sinamon,  Dan,  55. 
Sir  Frances  Freeland  (packet),  8. 
Siro  (schooner),  55. 
Smart,  William,  55. 
Smith,  Nichol,  55. 
Smith,   Thomas,   50. 
Snap  Dragon  (schooner),  53,  54. 
Snow,  James,  15,  16,  18,  19,  21. 
Steel   [?],  John,  55. 
Story,  William,  25. 
Stow,  John,  55. 
Stow,  Lewis,  55. 

Strout,  ,  16. 

Strout,  John,  55. 
Strout,  Joshua,  18. 
Studdy,  Richard,  55. 
Sturtevant,  Thomas,  Jr.,  37,  39. 
Sutton,  Martin,  55. 

Swaysey,  ,  20. 

Syren  (brig),  23,  53,  54. 

Tailor,  J.  B.,  55. 
Taylor,  John,  Sr.,  16,  35. 
Taylor,  John,  Jr.,  16,  35. 
Terry,  William,  55. 
Thomas,  Henry,  55. 
Thomas,  Uriah,  55. 
Tickler,  55. 
Timmon,  M.,  55. 
Tobby,  Elijah,  55. 
Tom  (schooner),  53,  55. 
Tomas,  John,  55. 
Tomkins,  K.,  55. 
Tophouse,  Sam,  55. 
Trumbull,  James,  50. 
Turk,  see  Grand  Turk. 
Turtle,  Francis,  55. 

Upton,  Henry,  15,  16,  22,  27. 

Valpey,  Edna  Gertrude,  vii. 
Valpey,  Fred,  vi. 


71  ] 


Valpey,  George,  11,  31. 

Valpey,  Jennie,  vi. 

Valpey,  Joseph,  Jr.,  v,  vi,  29,  64. 

Valpey,  Joseph,  Sr.,  v,  vi. 

Valpey,  Joseph  Hodges,  v. 

Valpey,  Lewis  Nelson,  v. 

Valpey,  Mehitable  (Murray),  v. 

Valpey,  Samuel,  11,  30. 

Vaughn,  K.,  55. 

Very,  Daniel,  14,  16,  19,  31,  55. 

Victory  {schooner),  52. 

Viper,  55. 

Virgis,  James,  55. 

Vivid, ,  prize  master  of,  21. 

Volunteer,  55. 

Washington,  George,  birthday  celebrated, 

22. 

Washington,  John,  50,  60. 
Wasp  (sloop),  43,  48. 


Wert,  George,  55. 
Whithan,  John,  55. 
Whittlebank,  Edward,  50. 

Wigging,  ,  15. 

Wiggins,  Richard,  14,  17. 

Willet,  Robert,  50. 

William,  53,  55. 

Williams,  James,  55. 

Williams,  James,  of  Gayhead,  55. 

Williams,  John,  1,  2,  3,  29,  30. 

Williams,  Thomas,  55. 

Willis,  B.,  1,  3,  29. 

Willis,  James,  51. 

Wilson,  Peter,  50. 

Yankey,  54,  55. 

Young,  William,  21,  22,  55. 

Zephyr,  53. 


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